Membrane extraction of 1-phenylethanol from fermentation solution

1-Phenylethanol can be produced by biotransformation of acetophenone using microorganisms. The next step is the separation of biomass from the fermentation solution (e.g. using microfiltration) and then the separation of the product. Membrane extraction was studied in the presented work for this purpose. Equilibria of acetophenone and 1-phenylethanol in the equilibrium system solute-organic solvent-water were investigated for three different organic solvents (heptane, toluene, ethyl acetate). On the basis of this investigation, extraction kinetics of both solutes from the model aqueous solution to the heptane organic phase, using a hollow fiber membrane module, were studied. To simulate the extraction kinetics, mathematical model of an experimental parallel flow hollow fiber contactor is presented and verified using experimental values with good agreement. Extraction kinetics for the investigated organic solvents were simulated and compared using the verified mathematical model and the chosen membrane extraction parameters.