PROCESS FOR PURIFYING MESO-LACTIDE

A process for purifying meso-lactide including purifying meso-lactide, wherein the free acid content is at least 30 meq/kg including at least one step of subjecting a feed including at least 75 wt. % meso-lactide to solvent crystallisation followed by product meso-lactide recovery, wherein the solvent crystallisation is carried in a solvent including at least 70 wt. % of at least one compound selected from the group of ketones of the formula R1-C(═O)-R2, the solvent amounts to 5-50 wt. % of feed and solvent total, the solvent crystallisation conditions being at least 15% of the meso-lactide in the feed crystallises in solid form, wherein the solid meso lactide recovered from solvent crystallisation followed by recovery of product meso-lactide has a free acid content of at most 20 meq/kg. The process yields meso-lactide in high purity and high yield in an efficient manner, with minimum formation of lactic and linear lactic acid oligomers.