Extraction of Succinic Acid from Simulated Media by Emulsion Liquid Membrane by Tri butyl amine as Carrier

Emulsion liquid membranes (ELMs) were applied to extract succinic acid in simulated media with TBA (tributylamine) carrier for the first time. Feed solution concentration of succinic acid (40 mmol/L) was as high as that in an actual fermentation broth producing succinic acid. To achieve the optimal conditions, the effects of several experimental variables on the batch ELM system were investigated. The effect of addition of cyclo hexanone into the membrane phase was studied on the extraction process. Also, kinetics of the extraction process was investigated and the first-order kinetics was proposed to the extraction process. Under a specific operating condition, the degree of extraction of succinic acid was as high as 99%, for extraction time of 25 min. Also, the TBA concentration, surfactant value and initial volume ratio of emulsion phase to feed phase were determined as 30 mM, 7 vol.%, and 1:5 respectively, for optimum efficiency of extraction.