P
USRE48464EActiveUtilityPatentIndex 72

Process for producing acesulfame potassium

Assignee: CELANESE SALES GERMANY GMBHPriority: Jun 8, 2012Filed: Feb 13, 2017Granted: Mar 16, 2021
Est. expiryJun 8, 2032(~5.9 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:BAYER MICHAEL JBRIETZKE STEPHANGROER PETERMOLLENKOPF CHRISTOPH
C07D 291/06A23L 27/30C07C 303/34C07C 307/02
72
PatentIndex Score
4
Cited by
173
References
136
Claims

Abstract

In one embodiment, the invention relates to processes for producing acesulfame potassium. In one embodiment, the process comprises the step of reacting a first reaction mixture to form an amidosulfamic acid salt such as a trialkyl ammonium amidosulfamic acid salt. The first reaction mixture comprises sulfamic acid, an amine, and smaller amounts, if any, acetic acid, e.g., less than 1 wt % (10000 wppm). In terms of ranges, the first reaction mixture may comprise from 1 wppm to 1 wt % acetic acid. The process further comprises the step of reacting the amidosulfamic acid salt with diketene to form an acetoacetamide salt. In preferred embodiments, the amidosulfamic acid salt formation reaction is conducted at pH levels from 5.5 to 7.0. The process further comprises the step of deriving the acesulfame-K from the acetoacetamide salt.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
We claim: 
     
       1. A process for producing acesulfame potassium, the process comprising the steps of:
 (a) reacting a first reaction mixture comprising:
 sulfamic acid, 
 an amine, and 
 from 1 wppm to 1 wt % wppm acetic acid 
 
 to form an amidosulfamic acid salt; 
 (b) reacting the amidosulfamic acid salt with diketene to form an acetoacetamide salt; 
 (c) deriving the acesulfame potassium from the acetoacetamide salt, 
 wherein a molar ratio of acetic acid to sulfamic acid in the first reaction mixture is less than 0.095:1. 
 
     
     
       2. The process of  claim 1 , wherein step (c) comprises:
 reacting the acetoacetamide salt with a cyclizing agent to form a cyclic sulfur trioxide adduct;and 
 deriving the acesulfame potassium composition from the cyclic sulfur trioxide adduct. 
 
     
     
       3. The process of  claim 2 , wherein the deriving comprises:
 hydrolyzing the cyclic sulfur trioxide adduct to form acesulfame-H; and 
 neutralizing the acesulfame-H with potassium hydroxide to form the potassium acesulfame. 
 
     
     
       4. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the amine comprises triethylamine. 
     
     
       5. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the reaction in step (a) is conducted at an amine excess of less than 6 mol %. 
     
     
       6. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the amidosulfamic acid salt has a yellowing index less than 5 and/or the acetoacetamide salt has a yellowing index less than 45. 
     
     
       7. The process of  claim 1 , wherein a molar ratio of amine to sulfamic acid in the first reaction mixture is less than 1.06:1. 
     
     
       8. The process of  claim 1 , wherein the process does not comprise an acetic acid removal step. 
     
     
       9. The process of  claim 1 , wherein step (b) comprises:
 contacting the amidosulfamic acid salt and diketene to form a second reaction mixture; and 
 reacting the second reaction mixture to form the acetoacetamide salt. 
 
     
     
       10. A process for producing acesulfame potassium, the process comprising the steps of:
 (a) reacting a first reaction mixture comprising:
 sulfamic acid, 
 an amine, and 
 from 1 wppm to 1 wt % wppm acetic acid 
 
 to form an amidosulfamic acid salt; 
 (b) reacting the amidosulfamic acid salt with diketene to form an acetoacetamide salt; 
 (c) deriving the acesulfame potassium from the acetoacetamide salt, 
 wherein the acesulfame potassium has a yellowing index less than 5. 
 
     
     
       11. A process for producing acesulfame potassium, the process comprising the steps of:
 (a) reacting a first reaction mixture comprising:
 sulfamic acid, 
 an amine, and 
 from 1 wppm to 1 wt % wppm acetic acid 
 
 to form an amidosulfamic acid salt; 
 (b) reacting the amidosulfamic acid salt with diketene to form an acetoacetamide salt; 
 (c) deriving the acesulfame potassium from the acetoacetamide salt, 
 wherein a molar ratio of amine to sulfamic acid in the first reaction mixture is less than 1.06:1. 
 
     
     
       12. The process of claim 1, wherein the acetoacetamide salt has a yellowing index less than 25. 
     
     
       13. The process of claim 6, wherein the acetoacetamide salt has a yellowing index less than 25. 
     
     
       14. The process of claim 10, wherein the pH of the first reaction mixture is maintained at a level ranging from 5.5 to 7.0. 
     
     
       15. The process of claim 10, wherein the pH of the first reaction mixture is maintained at a level ranging from 6.1 to 6.4. 
     
     
       16. The process of claim 13, wherein the pH of the first reaction mixture is maintained at a level ranging from 6.1 to 6.4. 
     
     
       17. The process of claim 10, wherein the pH of the first reaction mixture is maintained at a level greater than 5.5. 
     
     
       18. The process of claim 10, wherein the pH of the first reaction mixture is maintained at a level greater than 6.1. 
     
     
       19. The process of claim 10, wherein the pH of the first reaction mixture is maintained at a level less than 6.8. 
     
     
       20. The process of claim 10, wherein the pH of the first reaction mixture is maintained at a level less than 6.4. 
     
     
       21. The process of claim 10, wherein the first reaction mixture comprises acetic acid in an amount from 10 to 900 wppm, based on the total weight of the sulfamic acid, amine, and acetic acid. 
     
     
       22. The process of claim 10, wherein the first reaction mixture comprises acetic acid in an amount from 10 to 900 wppm, based on the total weight of the sulfamic acid, amine, and acetic acid. 
     
     
       23. The process of claim 10, wherein the first reaction mixture comprises acetic acid in an amount less than 100 wppm, based on the total weight of the sulfamic acid, amine, and acetic acid. 
     
     
       24. The process of claim 10, wherein the first reaction mixture further comprises solvent and wherein the first reaction mixture comprises acetic acid in an amount less than 0.175 wt %, based on the total weight of the sulfamic acid, amine, acetic acid, and solvent. 
     
     
       25. The process of claim 20, wherein the first reaction mixture further comprises solvent and wherein the first reaction mixture comprises acetic acid in an amount less than 0.175 wt %, based on the total weight of the sulfamic acid, amine, acetic acid, and solvent. 
     
     
       26. The process of claim 10, wherein the first reaction mixture comprises at least 35 wt % amine, based on the total weight of the sulfamic acid, amine, and acetic acid. 
     
     
       27. The process of claim 10, wherein the first reaction mixture comprises from 1 wppm to 900 wppm acetic acid and from 35 wt % to 75 wt % amine, based on the total weight of the sulfamic acid, amine, and acetic acid. 
     
     
       28. The process of claim 10, wherein the first reaction mixture comprises from 45 wt % to 85 wt % solvent, based on the total weight of the sulfamic acid, amine, acetic acid, and solvent. 
     
     
       29. The process of claim 10, wherein the molar ratio of acetic acid to sulfamic acid in the first reaction mixture ranges from 0.001:1 to 0.06:1. 
     
     
       30. The process of claim 10, wherein the molar ratio of amine to sulfamic acid in the first reaction mixture is greater than 1:1. 
     
     
       31. The process of claim 29, wherein the molar ratio of amine to sulfamic acid in the first reaction mixture is greater than 1:1. 
     
     
       32. The process of claim 10, wherein the amidosulfamic acid salt, as formed, has a yellowing index less than 5. 
     
     
       33. The process of claim 10, wherein the amidosulfamic acid salt, as formed, has a yellowing index less than 2. 
     
     
       34. The process of claim 29, wherein the amidosulfamic acid salt, as formed, has a yellowing index less than 2. 
     
     
       35. The process of claim 10, wherein the amidosulfamic acid salt, as formed, has a yellowing index less than 0.5. 
     
     
       36. The process of claim 10, wherein the acetoacetamide salt, as formed, has a yellowing index less than 25. 
     
     
       37. The process of claim 10, wherein the acetoacetamide salt, as formed, has a yellowing index less than 10. 
     
     
       38. The process of claim 10 wherein the acesulfame potassium has a yellowing index less than 3. 
     
     
       39. The process of claim 32, wherein the acesulfame potassium has a yellowing index less than 0.5. 
     
     
       40. The process of claim 10, wherein the pH of the first reaction mixture is maintained at a level ranging from 5.9 to 6.8, and wherein the amidosulfamic acid salt, as formed, has a yellowing index less than 5. 
     
     
       41. The process of claim 10, wherein the pH of the first reaction mixture is maintained at a level ranging from 6.1 to 6.4, wherein the amidosulfamic acid salt, as formed, has a yellowing index less than 5, and wherein the acetoacetamide salt, as formed, has a yellowing index less than 25. 
     
     
       42. The process of claim 10, wherein the pH of the first reaction mixture is maintained at a level ranging from 6.1 to 6.4, wherein the amidosulfamic acid salt, as formed, has a yellowing index less than 2, wherein the acetoacetamide salt, as formed, has a yellowing index less than 10, and wherein the acesulfame potassium has a yellowing index less than 3. 
     
     
       43. The process of claim 10, wherein the acetoacetamide salt, as formed, has a yellowing index and wherein the yellowing index of the acetoacetamide salt is less than the yellowing index of the acesulfame potassium. 
     
     
       44. The process of claim 20, wherein the first reaction is conducted at a temperature greater than 25° C. 
     
     
       45. The process of claim 10, wherein first reaction and the acetoacetamide salt formation reaction are conducted in the same reactor. 
     
     
       46. The process of claim 10, wherein first reaction and the acetoacetamide salt formation reaction are conducted in different reactors. 
     
     
       47. The process of claim 10, wherein the pH of the acetoacetamide salt formation reaction ranges from 5.9 to 6.8. 
     
     
       48. The process of claim 10, wherein the pH of the first reaction mixture ranges from 5.9 to 6.8 and the pH of the acetoacetamide salt formation reaction ranges from 5.9 to 6.8. 
     
     
       49. The process of claim 10, wherein the first reaction and the acetoacetamide salt formation reaction are conducted in separate reactors and wherein some of the amine from the first reaction is carried through to the reaction mixture of the acetoacetamide salt formation reaction. 
     
     
       50. The process of claim 49, wherein the acetoacetamide salt formation reaction mixture comprises the amidosulfamic acid salt, and carried-through amine. 
     
     
       51. The process of claim 10, wherein the pH of the acetoacetamide salt formation reaction is maintained at a level ranging from 5.5 to 7.0, wherein the acetoacetamide salt, as formed, has a yellowing index less than 10, and wherein the acesulfame potassium has a yellowing index less than 3. 
     
     
       52. The process of claim 10, wherein the pH of the acetoacetamide salt formation reaction is maintained at a level ranging from 6.1 to 6.4, wherein the acetoacetamide salt, as formed, has a yellowing index less than 10, and wherein the acesulfame potassium has a yellowing index less than 3. 
     
     
       53. The process of claim 10, wherein the first reaction is conducted at an amine excess of less than 6 mol %. 
     
     
       54. The process of claim 10, wherein the first reaction is conducted at an amine excess of less than 3 mol %. 
     
     
       55. The process of claim 10, further comprising: maintaining the pH of the first reaction by controlling the content of acetic acid and amine, and wherein the controlling comprises maintaining the concentration of acetic acid between 1 wppm and 1 wt % and the concentration of amine between 35 wt % and 75 wt %. 
     
     
       56. The process of claim 10, wherein the acetoacetamide salt formation reaction comprises less than 0.157 wt % acetic acid, from 3 wt % to 45 wt % amidosulfamic acid salt, from 1 wt % to 30 wt % diketene, and from 45 wt % to 85 wt % solvent. 
     
     
       57. The process of claim 10, wherein step (c) comprises:
 reacting the acetoacetamide salt with a cyclizing agent to form a cyclic sulfur trioxide adduct; and   deriving the acesulfame potassium composition from the cyclic sulfur trioxide adduct.   
     
     
       58. The process of claim 57, wherein the deriving comprises:
 hydrolyzing the cyclic sulfur trioxide adduct to form acesulfame-H; and   neutralizing the acesulfame-H with potassium hydroxide to form the acesulfame potassium.   
     
     
       59. The process of claim 10, wherein the amine comprises triethylamine. 
     
     
       60. The process of claim 57, wherein the acetoacetamide salt formation reaction mixture comprises diketene in an amount from 1 wt % to 30 wt %, based on total weight of the acetoacetamide salt formation reaction mixture including solvent. 
     
     
       61. The process of claim 53, wherein the acetoacetamide salt formation reaction mixture comprises from 3 wt % to 45 wt % of the amidosulfamic acid salt, from 1 wt % to 30 wt % of the diketene, and from 45 wt % to 85 wt % solvent based on total weight of the acetoacetamide salt formation reaction mixture. 
     
     
       62. The process of claim 54, wherein the diketene is present in excess to the amount of the amidosulfamic acid salt. 
     
     
       63. The process of claim 62, wherein the excess is less than 10 mol %. 
     
     
       64. The process of claim 62, wherein the reacting of the first reaction mixture is conducted at a temperature from 0° C. to 25° C. 
     
     
       65. The process of claim 10, wherein the pH of the first reaction mixture is maintained at a level ranging from 5.5 to 7.0, and wherein the acetoacetamide salt formation reaction is conducted in the presence of less than 0.157 wt % acetic acid, based on the total weight of the acetoacetamide salt formation reaction, and wherein the process produces at least 50 grams of acesulfame potassium per hour. 
     
     
       66. The process of claim 64, wherein the pH of the first reaction mixture is maintained at 5.9 to 6.8, wherein the amidosulfamic acid salt, as formed, has a yellowing index less than 5, and wherein the acetoacetamide salt, as formed, has a yellowing index less than 25. 
     
     
       67. The process of claim 64, wherein the pH of the first reaction mixture is maintained at a level ranging from 6.1 to 6.4, wherein the amidosulfamic acid salt, as formed, has a yellowing index less than 2, wherein the acetoacetamide salt, as formed, has a yellowing index less than 10, and wherein the acesulfame potassium has a yellowing index less than 3. 
     
     
       68. The process of claim 65, wherein the pH of the first reaction mixture is substantially similar to the pH of the acetoacetamide salt formation reaction mixture. 
     
     
       69. The process of claim 65, wherein the acetoacetamide salt, as formed, has a yellowing index less than 25, and the acesulfame potassium has a yellowing index less than 3. 
     
     
       70. The process of claim 64, wherein the pH of the first reaction mixture is maintained at a level ranging from 5.9 to 6.8, wherein the amidosulfamic acid salt, as formed, has a yellowing index less than 5, and wherein the acetoacetamide salt, as formed, has a yellowing index less than 25. 
     
     
       71. The process of claim 10, wherein the process produces at least 50 grams of acesulfame-K per hour, and wherein the first reaction is conducted at a temperature greater than 10° C. 
     
     
       72. The process of claim 20, wherein the process produces at least 50 grams of acesulfame-K per hour, and wherein the first reaction is conducted at a temperature greater than 10° C. 
     
     
       73. The process of claim 10, wherein the acetoacetamide salt formation reaction is conducted in the presence of less than 0.157 wt % acetic acid, and wherein the first reaction mixture comprises from 1 wppm to 900 wppm acetic acid, based on a total weight of the sulfamic acid, the amine, and the acetic acid. 
     
     
       74. The process of claim 20, wherein the acetoacetamide salt formation reaction is conducted in the presence of less than 0.157 wt % acetic acid, and wherein the first reaction mixture comprises from 1 wppm to 900 wppm acetic acid, based on a total weight of the sulfamic acid, the amine, and the acetic acid. 
     
     
       75. The process of claim 10, wherein the acetoacetamide salt formation reaction is conducted in the presence of less than 0.157 wt % acetic acid, and wherein the first reaction mixture comprises from 100 wppm to 1 wt % acetic acid, based on a total weight of the sulfamic acid, the amine, and the acetic acid. 
     
     
       76. The process of claim 62, wherein the first reaction mixture further comprises solvent and wherein the first reaction mixture comprises the acetic acid present in an amount from 1 wppm to 150 wppm acetic acid, based on a total weight of the sulfamic acid, the amine, the acetic acid, and the solvent. 
     
     
       77. The process of claim 76, wherein the molar ratio of the acetic acid to the sulfamic acid in the first reaction mixture is less than 0.095:1. 
     
     
       78. The process of claim 76, wherein the amidosulfamic acid salt formation reaction mixture comprises from 3 wt % to 45 wt % amidosulfamic acid salt, from 1 wt % to 30 wt % diketene, and from 45 wt % to 85 wt % solvent, based on a total weight of the amidosulfamic acid salt formation reaction mixture. 
     
     
       79. The process of claim 10, further comprising the step of:
 maintaining the pH of the first reaction by controlling the content of acetic acid and amine in the first reaction mixture;   wherein the maintaining is achieved by maintaining a molar ratio of acetic acid to sulfamic acid at less than 0.095:1.   
     
     
       80. The process of claim 79, wherein the pH of the first reaction mixture is maintained at 5.5 to 7.0. 
     
     
       81. The process of claim 79, wherein the controlling comprises maintaining the concentration of acetic acid between 1 wppm and 1 wt % and the concentration of amine between 35 wt % and 75 wt %. 
     
     
       82. The process of claim 10, wherein the reacting the amidosulfamic acid salt with diketene to form an acetoacetamide salt step is carried out in a second reaction mixture comprising less than 0.157 wt % acetic acid, from 3 wt % to 45 wt % amidosulfamic acid salt, from 1 wt % to 30 wt % diketene, and from 45 wt % to 85 wt % solvent, based on a total weight of the amidosulfamic acid salt formation reaction mixture. 
     
     
       83. The process of claim 82, wherein first reaction and the acetoacetamide salt formation reaction are conducted in the same reactor. 
     
     
       84. The process of claim 83, wherein the pH of the first reaction mixture is maintained at a level ranging from 5.9 to 6.8 and the pH of the second reaction mixture is maintained at a level ranging from 5.9 to 6.8. 
     
     
       85. A process for producing acesulfame potassium, the process comprising the steps of:
 (a) reacting a first reaction mixture comprising: sulfamic acid, triethylamine, and from 1 wppm to 1 wt % acetic acid, at a molar ratio of acetic acid to sulfamic acid less than 0.095:1, at a molar ratio of amine to sulfamic acid less than 1.06:1, at an amine excess less than 6 mol %, to form a trialkyl ammonium amidosulfamic acid salt having a yellowing index less than 5;   (b) contacting the amidosulfamic acid salt and diketene to form a second reaction mixture and reacting the second reaction mixture at a pH from 5.5 to 7.0 to form an acetoacetamide salt having a yellowing index less than 45;   (c) reacting the acetoacetamide salt with a cyclizing agent to form a cyclic sulfur trioxide adduct; and   (d) hydrolyzing the cyclic sulfur trioxide adduct to form acesulfame-H; and   (e) neutralizing the acesulfame-H with potassium hydroxide to form the potassium acesulfame;   wherein the acesulfame potassium has a yellowing index less than 5.   
     
     
       86. A process for producing acesulfame potassium, the process comprising the steps of:
 (a) reacting a first reaction mixture comprising: sulfamic acid, triethylamine, and from 1 wppm to 1 wt % acetic acid to form a trialkyl ammonium amidosulfamic acid salt having a yellowness index less than 5;   (b) contacting the amidosulfamic acid salt with diketene to form a second reaction mixture and reacting the second reaction mixture to form an acetoacetamide salt;   (c) deriving the acesulfame potassium from the acetoacetamide salt.   
     
     
       87. The process of claim 86, wherein the reaction of the first reaction mixture is conducted at an amine excess of less than 6 mol %. 
     
     
       88. The process of claim 87, wherein the acetoacetamide salt formation reaction is conducted in the presence of less than 0.157 wt % acetic acid, and wherein the first reaction mixture comprises from 1 wppm to 900 wppm acetic acid, based on a total weight of the sulfamic acid, the amine, and the acetic acid. 
     
     
       89. The process of claim 87, wherein the pH of the first reaction mixture is maintained at less than 6.8. 
     
     
       90. The process of claim 87, wherein the acesulfame potassium has a yellowing index less than 3. 
     
     
       91. The process of claim 88, wherein the acesulfame potassium has a yellowing index less than 3. 
     
     
       92. A process for producing acesulfame potassium, the process comprising the steps of:
 (a) reacting a first reaction mixture comprising: sulfamic acid, triethylamine, and from 1 wppm to 1 wt % acetic acid to form a trialkyl ammonium amidosulfamic acid salt;   (b) contacting the amidosulfamic acid salt with diketene to form a second reaction mixture and reacting the second reaction mixture to form an acetoacetamide salt having a yellowing index less than 25;   (c) deriving the acesulfame potassium from the acetoacetamide salt.   
     
     
       93. The process of claim 92, wherein the reaction of the first reaction mixture is conducted at an amine excess of less than 6 mol %. 
     
     
       94. The process of claim 93, wherein the molar ratio of acetic acid to sulfamic acid in the first reaction mixture ranges from 0.001:1 to 0.06:1. 
     
     
       95. The process of claim 93, wherein the second reaction mixture further comprises ammonium acetate salt. 
     
     
       96. The process of claim 93, wherein the acesulfame potassium has a yellowing index less than 3. 
     
     
       97. The process of claim 95, wherein the acesulfame potassium has a yellowing index less than 3. 
     
     
       98. A process for producing acesulfame potassium, the process comprising the steps of:
 (a) reacting a first reaction mixture comprising: sulfamic acid, triethylamine, and acetic acid at a pH from 5.9 to 6.8 to form a trialkyl ammonium amidosulfamic acid salt having a yellowing index less than 5;   (b) contacting the amidosulfamic acid salt with diketene to form a second reaction mixture and reacting the second reaction mixture to form an acetoacetamide salt;   (c) deriving the acesulfame potassium from the acetoacetamide salt.   
     
     
       99. The process of claim 98, wherein the acetoacetamide salt formation reaction is conducted in the presence of less than 0.157 wt % acetic acid, and wherein the first reaction mixture comprises from 1 wppm to 900 wppm acetic acid, based on a total weight of the sulfamic acid, the amine, and the acetic acid. 
     
     
       100. The process of claim 98, wherein the acesulfame potassium has a yellowing index less than 3. 
     
     
       101. The process of claim 99, wherein the acesulfame potassium has a yellowing index less than 3. 
     
     
       102. The process of claim 98, wherein the second reaction mixture further comprises ammonium acetate salt. 
     
     
       103. The process of claim 99, wherein the second reaction mixture further comprises ammonium acetate salt. 
     
     
       104. The process of claim 100, wherein first reaction mixture is reacted at a pH from 6.1 to 6.4. 
     
     
       105. A process for producing acesulfame potassium, the process comprising the steps of:
 (a) reacting a first reaction mixture comprising: sulfamic acid, triethylamine, and acetic acid at a pH from 5.9 to 6.8 to form a trialkyl ammonium amidosulfamic acid salt;   (b) contacting the amidosulfamic acid salt with diketene to form a second reaction mixture and reacting the second reaction mixture to form an acetoacetamide salt having a yellowing index less than 25;   (c) deriving the acesulfame potassium from the acetoacetamide salt.   
     
     
       106. The process of claim 105, wherein the molar ratio of acetic acid to sulfamic acid in the first reaction mixture ranges from 0.001:1 to 0.06:1. 
     
     
       107. The process of claim 106, wherein the reaction of the first reaction mixture is conducted at an amine excess of less than 6 mol %. 
     
     
       108. The process of claim 105, wherein the acetoacetamide salt formation reaction is conducted in the presence of less than 0.157 wt % acetic acid. 
     
     
       109. The process of claim 106, wherein the acetoacetamide salt formation reaction is conducted in the presence of less than 0.157 wt % acetic acid. 
     
     
       110. The process of claim 106, wherein the acesulfame potassium has a yellowing index less than 3. 
     
     
       111. The process of claim 108, wherein the acesulfame potassium has a yellowing index less than 3. 
     
     
       112. The process of claim 110, wherein first reaction mixture is reacted at a pH from 6.1 to 6.4. 
     
     
       113. A process for producing acesulfame potassium, the process comprising the steps of:
 (a) reacting a first reaction mixture comprising: sulfamic acid, an amine in a molar excess of 5 mol. % or less, and from 0.9 wt. % to 1 wt. % acetic acid to form an amidosulfamic acid salt, wherein the first reaction mixture is maintained at a pH of from 6.1 to 6.4;   (b) reacting the amidosulfamic acid salt with diketene to form an acetoacetamide salt;   (c) deriving the acesulfame potassium from the acetoacetamide salt,   wherein a molar ratio of amine to sulfamic acid in the first reaction mixture is from 1:1 to 1.05:1.   
     
     
       114. The process of claim 113, wherein step (c) comprises:
 reacting the acetoacetamide salt with a cyclizing agent to form a cyclic sulfur trioxide adduct; and   deriving the acesulfame potassium composition from the cyclic sulfur trioxide adduct.   
     
     
       115. The process of claim 114, wherein the deriving comprises:
 hydrolyzing the cyclic sulfur trioxide adduct to form acesulfame-H; and   neutralizing the acesulfame-H with potassium hydroxide to form the potassium acesulfame.   
     
     
       116. The process of claim 113, wherein the amine comprises triethylamine. 
     
     
       117. The process of claim 113, wherein the amidosulfamic acid salt has a yellowing index less than 5. 
     
     
       118. The process of claim 113, wherein the acetoacetamide salt has a yellowing index less than 25. 
     
     
       119. The process of claim 113, wherein the first reaction mixture comprises from 45 wt % to 85 wt % solvent, based on the total weight of the sulfamic acid, amine, acetic acid, and solvent. 
     
     
       120. The process of claim 113, wherein the molar ratio of amine to sulfamic acid in the first reaction mixture is greater than 1:1. 
     
     
       121. The process of claim 113, wherein the diketene is present in excess to the amount of the amidosulfamic acid salt. 
     
     
       122. The process of claim 113, wherein the diketene is present in excess in an amount of less than 10 mol. % to the amount of the amidosulfamic acid salt. 
     
     
       123. The process of claim 113, wherein the process produces at least 50 grams of acesulfame-K per hour, and wherein the first reaction is conducted at a temperature greater than 10° C. 
     
     
       124. A process for producing acesulfame potassium, the process comprising the steps of:
 (a) reacting a first reaction mixture comprising: sulfamic acid, an amine, and from 1 wppm to 1 wt. % acetic acid to form an amidosulfamic acid salt;   (b) reacting the amidosulfamic acid salt with diketene to form an acetoacetamide salt;   (c) deriving the acesulfame potassium from the acetoacetamide salt,   wherein a molar ratio of amine to sulfamic acid in the first reaction mixture is from 1:1 to 1.05:1.   
     
     
       125. The process of claim 124, wherein the acetic acid is present in an amount of from 0.9 wt. % to 1 wt. %. 
     
     
       126. The process of claim 124, wherein the first reaction mixture is maintained at a pH of from 6.1 to 6.4. 
     
     
       127. The process of claim 124, wherein step (c) comprises:
 reacting the acetoacetamide salt with a cyclizing agent to form a cyclic sulfur trioxide adduct; and   deriving the acesulfame potassium composition from the cyclic sulfur trioxide adduct.   
     
     
       128. The process of claim 127, wherein the deriving comprises:
 hydrolyzing the cyclic sulfur trioxide adduct to form acesulfame-H; and   neutralizing the acesulfame-H with potassium hydroxide to form the potassium acesulfame.   
     
     
       129. The process of claim 124, wherein the amine comprises triethylamine. 
     
     
       130. The process of claim 124, wherein the amidosulfamic acid salt has a yellowing index less than 5. 
     
     
       131. The process of claim 124, wherein the acetoacetamide salt has a yellowing index less than 25. 
     
     
       132. The process of claim 124, wherein the first reaction mixture comprises from 45 wt % to 85 wt % solvent, based on the total weight of the sulfamic acid, amine, acetic acid, and solvent. 
     
     
       133. The process of claim 124, wherein the molar ratio of amine to sulfamic acid in the first reaction mixture is greater than 1:1. 
     
     
       134. The process of claim 124, wherein the diketene is present in excess in an amount of less than 10 mol. % to the amount of the amidosulfamic acid salt. 
     
     
       135. The process of claim 134, wherein the excess of the diketene is less than 10 mol %. 
     
     
       136. The process of claim 124, wherein the process produces at least 50 grams of acesulfame-K per hour, and wherein the first reaction is conducted at a temperature greater than 10° C.

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