Selective separation of penicillin V from phenoxyacetic acid using liquid membranes

The selective separation of Penicillin V from phenoxyacetic acid using extraction and transport through liquid membranes consisting of 1,2-dichloroethane and Amberlite LA-2 as carrier was studied. The selective separation is the result of the difference between the acidity and hydrophobicity of the two compounds. The experimental data indicated the decisive influences of pH (difference between the feed and stripping phases), carrier concentration in solvent phase (0-80 g/l Amberlite LA-2) and mixing intensity. Thus, the selectivity factor, defined as the ratio between the final mass flows of Penicillin V and phenoxyacetic acid, was enhancing by reducing the pH gradient between the aqueous solutions and by using low concentrations of carrier inside the liquid membrane, in the conditions of high stirrers rotation speed values. The selectivity factor value varied between 2.5 and 80.4. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.