A hollow-fiber membrane extraction process for recovery and separation of lactic acid from aqueous solution

An energy-efficient hollow-fiber membrane extraction process was successfully developed to separate and recover lactic acid produced in fermentation. Although many fermentation processes have been developed for lactic acid production, and economical method for lactic acid recovery from the fermentation broth is still needed. Continuous extraction of lactic acid from a simulated aqueous stream was achieved by using Alamine 336 in 2-octanol contained in a hollow-fiber membrane extractor. In this process, the extractant was simultaneously regenerated by stripping with NaOH in a second membrane extractor, and the final product is a concentrated lactate salt solution. The extraction rate increased linearly with an increase in the Alamine 336 content in the solvent (from 5 to 40%). Increasing the concentration of the undissociated lactic acid in the feed solution by either increasing the lactate concentration (from 5 to 40 g/L) or decreasing the solution pH (from 5.0 to 4.0) also increased the extraction rate. Based on these observations, a reactive extraction model with a first-order reaction mechanism for both lactic acid and amine concentrations was proposed. The extraction rate also increased with an increase in the feed flow rate, but not the flow rates of solvent and the stripping solution, suggesting that the process was not limited by diffusion in the liquid films or membrane pores. A mathematical model considering both diffusion and chemical reaction in the extractor and back extractor was developed to simulate the process. The model fits the experimental data well and can be used in scale up design of the process.     

Membrane-mediated extractive fermentation for lactic acid production from cellulosic biomass

Lactic acid production from cellulosic biomass by cellulase andLactobacillus delbrueckii was studied in a fermenter-extractor employing a microporous hollow fiber membrane (MHF). This bioreactor system was operated under a fed-batch mode with continuous removal of lactic acid by anin situ extraction. A tertiary amine (Alamine 336) was used as an extractant for lactic acid. The extraction capacity of Alamine 336 is greatly enhanced by addition of alcohol. Long-chain alcohols serve well for this purpose since they are less toxic to micro-organism. Addition of kerosene, a diluent, was necessary to reduce the solvent viscosity. A solvent mixture of 20% Alamine 336, 40% oleyl alcohol, and 40% kerosene was found to be most effective in the extraction of lactic acid. Progressive change of pH from an initial value of 5.0 down to 4.3 has significantly improved the overall performance of the simultaneous saccharification and extractive fermentation over that of constant pH operation. The change of pH was applied to promote cell growth in the early phase, and extraction in the latter phase.     

Separation of Zr from Hf in acidic chloride solutions by using TOPO and its mixture with other extractants

Liquid–liquid extraction of Zr and Hf from chloride solutions was performed by using TOPO extractant in kerosene. An effective extraction of Zr from Hf was achieved selectively at 2.5–3 M HCl condition. Moreover, a mixture of TOPO with DOS, D2EHPA, Aliquat 336, Alamine 336 and Alamine 308 were tested in order to investigate the extraction behavior of Zr and Hf. The mixture of TOPO and D2EHPA was found to increase the extraction of Zr and Hf. In the extraction by the mixture of TOPO and amine, the extraction percentage of Zr and Hf was decreased with the increase of amine concentration due to the preferential extraction of HCl. Finally, among the mixtures of TOPO and other extractants tested in this study, the TOPO alone system was found to be better for the mutual separation of Zr and Hf in hydrochloric acid media.     

Solvent extraction of uranium(VI) and separation of vanadium(V) from sulfate solutions using Alamine 336

The present scientific study on uranium(VI) solvent extraction and vanadium(V) separation from sulfate solutions using Alamine 336 as an extractant diluted in kerosene was established. The preliminary experiments indicating the uranium extraction process will follow the solvation as well as ion-exchange mechanisms. In the present acid region (0.1–1.0 mol dm⁻³ H₂SO₄) it showing the ion-exchange type mechanism. Time (1–120 min) and temperature (25–55 °C) not influencing the present extraction system. Other experimental parameters like loading capacity of Alamine 336, stripping of uranium from loaded organic phase, recycling of Alamine 336 and separation of uranium(VI)/vanadium(V) was studied.     

Extraction of molybdenum by a supported liquid membrane method

This is a report on the extraction of molybdenum(VI) ions using a supported liquid membrane, prepared by dissolving in kerosene, the extractant Alamine 336 (a long-chain tertiary amine) employed as mobile carrier. A flat hydrophobic microporous membrane was utilised as solid support. Appropriate conditions for Mo(VI) extraction through the liquid membrane were obtained from the results of liquid-liquid extraction and stripping partition experiments. The influence of feed solution acidity, the carrier extractant concentration in the organic liquid film and the content of strip agent on the metal flux through membrane were investigated. It was established that maximal extraction of metal is achieved at a pH 2.0 if sulphuric acid is used in the feed solution and at a pH value over 11.0 if Na₂CO₃ is used as strip agent. Moreover, the molybdenum extraction through membrane is enhanced when a 0.02 mol l⁻¹ content of the amine carrier in the organic phase is used. The present paper deals with an equilibrium investigation of the extraction of Mo(VI) by Alamine 336 and its permeation conditions through the liquid membrane, and examines a possible mechanism of extraction.     

Solvent extractions of zirconium and niobium from HCl solutions by Aliquat 336/Alamine 336 and DOSO mixtures

Liquid-liquid extractions of zirconium(IV) from aqueous HCl solutions by mixtures of Aliquat 336 or Alamine 336 and diocytl sulfoxide (DOSO) in the diluent benzene has been found to be always higher than that by any single extractant. While the cationic extractants extract Zr(IV) above 6M HCl, DOSO extracts from 4M onwards. Synergism has been observed in all cases. With any of these extractants extraction becomes almost quantitative at and above 10M HCl, but with mixtures of the cationic and neutral extractants, extraction is quantitative in the range 8–9M HCl. Although the extracted species with DOSO alone seems to be ZrCl₄·DOSO, with the mixture of extractants, however, the extracted species appear to be Q₂ZrCl₆·DOSO where Q is R₃ ⁺NH (for Alamine 336) and R₃ ⁺N(CH₃) (for Aliquat 336). Studies on separation of⁹⁵Zr–⁹⁵Nb pair from aqueous HCl media by Alamine 336 or DOSO and their mixtures in benzene exhibit preferential extraction of⁹⁵Nb leaving behind⁹⁵Zr in the aqueous phase, and extractions have been found to depend both upon the extractant and HCl concentrations.     

Mathematical modeling for facilitated transport of Ge(IV) through supported liquid membrane containing Alamine 336

A mathematical model was developed for the germanium-facilitated transport from a medium containing tartaric acid using Alamine 336 as a carrier. Modeling was carried out based on the extraction constant (K _ext) obtained from the liquid–liquid extraction (LLX) modeling. The LLX data were achieved from experiments with conditions being Alamine 336 concentrations of 0.1–10% v/v from a solution containing about 1.378 mmol/L Ge (100 mg/L) and tartaric acid as an anionic complexant. The LLX model was attained using the equilibrium-based procedure and fitted to extraction experimental data for various carrier concentrations. This model presented an accurate extraction constant (K _ext = 0.02) used in the facilitated transport modeling. The flat sheet supported liquid membrane (FSSLM) experiments were conducted in the condition of 1.378 mmol/L Ge (100 mg/L), tartaric acid concentration of 2.760 mmol/L, 1 M HCl as a stripping phase and various Alamine 336 concentrations in the range of 0–35% v/v. The FSSLM model was developed according to the Fick’s law, the diffusional transport, and equilibrium equations. According to the model, mass transfer and diffusion coefficients for various concentrations of the carrier were found. In addition, the calculated and experimental values had a good correlation with together showing the validity of the model. This model can be used in the further process simulation such as hollow fiber SLMs.     

Extraction of rare earth metal samarium by microemulsion

The influence of the concentration of sodium oleate (NaOL), alcohol and the nature of the internal water phase on the water content of microemulsion was studied. The effect of the concentration of NaOL, sodium stearate, alcohol, salting-out agent, Alamine 336 added and of the contact time, volume ratio of the aqueous to microemulsion (R) and temperature on the extraction yield of samarium was investigated. The result shows that the extraction of samarium is effective under well-defined conditions utilizing WinsorII microemulsion systems.     

Experimental study on the uranium(VI) extraction rate and droplet mass transfer coefficients from a sulfate leach liquor medium with Alamine 336 in a single drop column

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - The mass transfer coefficient and the extraction degree of uranium was investigated from a leach liquor by Alamine 336 in a single drop column....     

Liquid–Liquid Extraction of Sulfuric Acid from Aqueous Sulfate Waste Solution using Alamine 336/Kerosene/TBP Solvent

Generally the metallurgical industries generate huge amounts of harmful environmental wastes, which may be solids, liquids, or gases in their nature. The present study aims to recovery sulfuric acid (227 g/l) from wastes generated during hydrometallurgical digestion of titanium ores with sulfuric acid for TiO₂ production. For this purpose Alamine 336/kerosene solvent was used. Various extraction parameters as Alamine 336 concentration, shaking time, type of diluent, and O/A phase ratio were studied and optimized. Under the optimum conditions, Mc-Cabe Thiele diagram results indicated that, after four extraction stages the acid concentration in aqueous phase was reduced from the initial value of 227 g/l to about 17 g/l. Stripping of the loaded sulfuric acid from the organic phase was done with warm water (60°C). Stripping parameters as water temperature, stripping time, and A/O phase ratio were studied. Under the stripping the loaded acid concentration in organic phase was reduced from 210 to 6 g/l which matched theoretically by McCabe Thiele diagram.     

Extraction of zirconium(IV) from HCl solutions by mixtures of Aliquat-336 and Alamine-336 with TBP

Synergism has been observed in the extraction of zirconium(IV) by mixtures of Aliquat 336 or Alamine 336 with a neutral donor TBP from aq. HCl solutions. Although the extractant dependency for Zr(IV) is found to be nearly second power with respect to TBP alone, monosolvate is found to be formed for extraction by its mixture with Aliquat 336 or Almine 336. Quantitative extraction is observed with mixtures at a lower acidity than that with individual extractants. The species formed is tentatively assigned to be Q₂ZrCl₆. TBP, where for Aliquat 336 and for Alamine 336.     

Membrane extraction for removal of acetic acid from biomass hydrolysates

Production of bioethanol from lignocellulosic biomass requires pretreatment of the biomass in order to improve the susceptibility of the cellulose to enzymatic hydrolysis to glucose. When dilute acid is used to perform this process, the hemicellulose is also hydrolyzed to its component sugars while simultaneously releasing acetyl groups attached to the hemicellulose backbone. Other compounds from the lignin and sugar degradation products are also produced that inhibit subsequent bioconversion of the solubilized sugars to the desired products. In this work we focused on removal of acetic acid from a dilute sulphuric acid pretreated corn stover hydrolysate.Acetic acid has been extracted into an organic phase at pH values below its pK_a. The organic phase diluent consisted of octanol. Alamine 336, a tertiary amine and Aliquat 336 a quaternary amine were used as the aliphatic amine extractants. Our results indicate more than 60% removal of acetic acid using Alamine 336. Extraction rates were much slower for Aliquat 336 probably due to the higher viscosity of the Aliquat 336/octanol phase.The presence of sulphate anions, as a result of dilute sulphuric acid pretreatment, results in the co-extraction of bisulphate anion. Bisulphate anion is preferentially extracted at pH values below its pK_a. Consequently the pH of the hydrolysate increases from between 1 and 2 to above 4.0 during extraction. In addition, extraction of low molecular weight lignins and phenolics is also observed. Thus the membrane extraction process developed here may be used not only for removal of acetic acid but also to adjust the pH of the hydrolysate to values that are more compatible for fermentation and to remove other inhibitory compounds.     

Effect of the nature of diluent on the extraction of beryllium by Aliquat 336 thiocyanate

The extraction behaviour of beryllium from HCl-KCNS by Aliquat 336, a quaternary ammonium halide, in various diluents is described. The dependence of extraction on thiocyanate concentration, pH of aqueous phase, metal and extractant concentrations, has been investigated. Extraction mechanism is suggested on the basis of results obtained.     

Interfacial behavior of DEHEHP and the kinetics of cerium(IV) extraction in nitrate media

The effects of diluents, temperature, acidity, and ionic strength of the aqueous phase on the interfacial properties of DEHEHP have been extensively investigated using the Du Nouy ring method. In addition, the effect of cerium(IV) concentration loaded in the organic phase on the interfacial tension has also been studied. With the increase of DEHEHP concentration, the value of interfacial tension (gamma) decreases in the studied system, which shows that DEHEHP has interfacial activity as a kind of surfactant. The surface excess at the saturated interface (Gamma(max)) and the minimum bulk concentration of the extractant necessary to saturate the interface (C(min)) under the different conditions are calculated according to two adsorption equations such as the Gibbs and Szyszkowski functions to be presented in comprehensive tables and figures. The relationship between the interfacial activity of DEHEHP and cerium(IV) extraction kinetics by DEHEHP has been discussed by considering different factors such as the effects of diluents and temperature. However, the interfacial activity parameter of extractant only is a qualitative parameter, but cannot provide strong enough evidence to quantitatively explain the relationship between extraction kinetics and interfacial properties of an extractant.     

Modeling of the adsorption kinetics of surfactants at the liquid-fluid interface of a pendant drop

This paper presents a theoretical model for simulating the adsorption kinetics of a surfactant at the liquid-fluid interface of a pendant drop. The diffusion equation is solved numerically by applying the semidiscrete Galerkin finite element method to obtain the time-dependent surfactant concentration distributions inside the pendant drop and inside the syringe needle that is used to form the pendant drop. With the obtained bulk surfactant concentration distributions, the adsorption at the interface is determined by using the conservation law of mass. It should be noted that the theoretical model developed in this study considers the actual geometry of the pendant drop, the depletion process of the surfactant inside the pendant drop, and the mass transfer of the surfactant from the syringe needle to the pendant drop. The present pendant-drop model is applied to study the adsorption kinetics of surfactant C10E8 (octaethylene glycol mono n-decyl ether) at the water-air interface of a pendant drop. The numerical results show that the Ward and Tordai equation, which was derived for adsorption from a semi-infinite surfactant solution to a planar interface, is unsuitable for interpreting the dynamic surface or interfacial tension data measured by using the pendant-drop-shape techniques, especially at low initial surfactant concentrations. The spherical-drop model, which assumes the pendant drop to be a perfectly spherical drop with the same drop volume, can be used to interpret the dynamic surface or interfacial tension data for pendant drops either with high initial surfactant concentrations or with low initial surfactant concentrations in short adsorption durations only. For pendant drops with low initial surfactant concentrations in long adsorption durations, the theoretical model developed in this study is strongly recommended.     

Emulsion liquid membrane extraction of Ni(II) and Co(II) from acidic chloride solutions using bis-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid as extractant

An emulsion liquid membrane process using bis-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) to extract and separate Ni(II) and Co(II) from acidic chloride solutions is described. Liquid membrane consists of a diluent, a surfactant (Span 80), and an extractant (D2EHPA). Hydrochloric acid was used as the stripping solution. The important parameters governing the permeation of nickel and their effect on the separation process have been studied. These parameters are stirring speed, feed phase pH, surfactant concentration, extractant concentration, stripping phase concentration, phase ratio, initial concentration of metal, and treatment ratio. The optimum conditions have been determined. The separation factors of Ni(II) with respect to Co(II), based on initial feed concentration, have been experimentally determined. Furthermore, the extraction selectivity for Co(II) over Ni(II) has been improved by using D2EHPA during the initial minutes.     

Fermentation of Reactive-Membrane-Extracted and Ammonium-Hydroxide-Conditioned Dilute-Acid-Pretreated Corn Stover

Acid-pretreated biomass contains various compounds (acetic acid, etc.) that are inhibitory to fermentative microorganisms. Removing or deactivating these compounds using detoxification methods such as overliming or ammonium hydroxide conditioning (AHC) improves sugar-to-ethanol yields. In this study, we treated the liquor fraction of dilute-acid-pretreated corn stover using AHC and a new reactive membrane extraction technique, both separately and in combination, and then the sugars in the treated liquors were fermented to ethanol with the glucose–xylose-fermenting bacterium, Zymomonas mobilis 8b. We performed reactive extraction with mixtures of octanol/Alamine 336 or oleyl alcohol/Alamine 336. The best ethanol yields and rates were achieved for oleyl alcohol-extracted hydrolysates followed by AHC hydrolysates, while octanol-extracted hydrolysates were unfermentable because highly toxic octanol was found in the hydrolysate. Adding olive oil significantly improved yields for octanol-extracted hydrolysate. Additional work is underway to determine if this technology is a cost-effective alternative to traditional hydrolysate conditioning processes.     

Extraction of cobalt(II) from aqueous thiocyanate and chloride solutions with alamine, alamine oxide and tri-n-octylphosphine oxide

Summary The extraction of Co(II) from KNCS, HNCS, LiCl and HCl solutions with Alamine 336-S, Alamine oxide and tri-n-octylphosphine oxide has been studied. For acid-deficient systems, the extraction efficiency decreases in the order AlamO > TOPO > Alamine, while the sequence is Alamine > AlamO > TOPO for extraction from acid solutions. Under acid-deficient conditions, extraction invariably proceeds through solvation. On the other hand, in the systems Alamine-HCl and -HNCS as well as AlamO-HCl, extraction is governed by anion-exchange. A mixed extraction mechanism occurs with the AlamO-HNCS, TOPO-HCl and TOPO-HNCS systems. The conclusions reported for liquid-extraction also appear to apply to reversed-phase thin-layer chromatography.

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Extraktion von Kobalt(II) aus wäßrigen Thiocyanat- und Chloridlösungen mit Alamin, Alaminoxid und Tri-n-octylphosphinoxid

Zusammenfassung Die Extraktion von Kobalt(II) aus KNCS-, HNCS-, LiCl- und HCl-Lösungen mit Alamin 336-S, Alaminoxid und Tri-n-octylphosphinoxid wurde untersucht. Im Falle von nichtsauren Systemen nimmt die Extrahierbarkeit in der Reihenfolge AlamO > TOPO > Alamin ab, während für saure Systeme die Reihenfolge Alamin > AlamO > TOPO gilt. Unter nichtsauren Bedingungen erfolgt die Extraktion stets durch Solvatation, wogegen in den Systemen Alamin-HCl, Alamin-HNCS sowie AlamO-HCl Anionenaustausch maßgebend ist. Gemischte Extraktionsmechanismen herrschen in den Systemen AlamO-HNCS, TOPO-HCl und TOPO-HNCS. Die für die flüssig-flüssig-Extraktion beschriebene Schlußfolgerungen scheinen auch für die Umkehrphasen-Dünnschicht-Chromatographie zu gelten.

     

Extraction with long-chain amines-II Extraction and colorimetric determination of chromate

Highly selective extraction of chromate from slightly acidic solutions (0.1-0.2M sulphuric acid) with a chloroform solution of trioctylamine (Alamine 336-S) or trioctylmethylammonium chloride Aliquat 336-S) is described. Many metals such as iron, nickel, cobalt, copper, alluminium, zinc, are not extracted, even if present in large concentrations. Coextraction of vanadium(V) and uranium(VI) is prevented by addition of sodium chloride. Traces of extracted molybdenum are scrubbed with ammonium oxalate. Final determination of chromium is based on measurement of the absorbance of the extract at 445-450 nm.     

Solvent extraction of Fe(III) by di-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid from phosphoric acid solutions

The extraction of iron(III) from aqueous phosphoric acid was studied using di-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid and trioctylphosphine oxide in nonaromatic hydrocarbon diluent. Distribution ratios have been investigated as a function of concentration of iron(III), phosphoric acid concentration, extractant concentration and extraction temperature. The apparent enthalpy change for the extraction reaction has been calculated from the temperature dependence data. It was found that the extractant dependency for iron(III) is first power indicating hydrolysis of iron(III) in the aqueous phase.