LACTIC ACID EXTRACTION

The invention pertains to a method for recovering lactic acid from an aqueous mixture comprising the steps of - providing an aqueous mixture comprising lactic acid and at least 5 wt. % dissolved magnesium chloride, based on the total weight of water and dissolved material in the aqueous mixture, - extracting the lactic acid from the aqueous mixture into a first organic liquid comprising an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of C5+ ketones, diethylether and methyl-tertiary-butyl-ether, thereby obtaining an organic lactic acid solution and an aqueous waste liquid (5) comprising magnesium chloride, and - extracting the lactic acid from the organic lactic acid solution into an aqueous liquid, thereby obtaining an aqueous lactic acid solution and a second organic liquid. The method according to the invention allows a combined purification and concentration step for feed solutions of lactic acid.