Abstract :
[en] BACKGROUND: Extraction is the method of choice for separating sensitive products. For example, it has been applied in
aromatics and rare-earth metal separation. Recently, biotechnological processes entered the field of bulk chemicals andmight
benefit fromprocess intensification by in situ extraction of inhibiting products, however in the presence of cells and/or aeration.
This study applies reactive extraction of the polyamide monomer hexane-1,6-diamine fromcell-containingmedium.
RESULTS: To prove technical feasibility of this reactive extraction, simulation of the extraction column based on single-drop
measurements was validated at pilot-scale. Simulated results show good accordance with experimental data with an error
below 20%. The extraction column was subsequently used as a bioreactor with integrated aeration and product extraction
applying a four-phase system investigating the effect on drop distributions and holdup of the dispersed phases. Interestingly,
aeration increased the holdup up to five-fold and decreased themean drop size of the organic extractive phase by 30%, thereby
potentially improving extraction efficiency.
CONCLUSION: The ReDrop simulation tool is capable of predicting challenging separation processes like the reactive extraction
of hexane-1,6-diamine with D2EHPA diluted in oleyl alcohol from a biotransformation medium. The process design enabled
four-phase operation of the column with aeration, extractive organic phase and cell-containing continuous aqueous phase.
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