EFFECT OF AGITATION ON REACTIVE EXTRACTION OF CEPHALOSPORIN-C

The reactive extraction of Cephalosporin C ester directly from the fer mentation broth of Cephalosporin C was studied in Liquid-Liquid two ph ase system using ethyl acetate. When the volumetric fraction rate of e thyl acetate phase was 0.33 or more, the effect of agitation was not o bserved on the reaction rate. On the other hand, the effectiveness of agitation appeared at the ratio 0.17 or less. It was clarified that th e rate determining step of this reactive extraction was mass transfer to reaction interface by a series of experimental results. An excellen t correlation was also obtained between the scale-up factor(Z), showin g power consumption ratio of agitation, and the over all mass transfer coefficient at the volumetric fraction ratio oi 0.17.