According to the process for producing amino acid or salt thereof in the
present invention, in the adsorption step, an amino acid-containing
aqueous solution is fed into a pressure tight column so that a free amino
acid is adsorbed on a carbonate-type anion exchange resin packed in the
pressure tight column. Subsequently, in the elution step, eluent liquid
containing a hydrogen carbonate ion and/or a carbonate ion is injected
into the pressure tight column in a pressurized state to elute the amino
acid adsorbed on the anion exchange resin and simultaneously to
regenarate the anion exchange resin into the carbonate-type. In the case
of purifying an acidic amino acid, an aqueous ammonium carbonate solution
is employed as the eluent liquid. In the case of purifying a neutral
amino acid, an aqueous carbonic acid solution, an aqueous hydrogen
carbonate solution, an aqueous ammonium hydrogen carbonate solution or an
aqueous ammonium carbonate solution is employed as the eluent liquid.
Further, a breakthrough liquid discharged from the adsorption step is
optionally concentrated to remove the volatile carbonate acid component
and ammonium component from the breakthrough liquid. Thus, the solid
content in the breakthrough liquid can be reduced.