ULTRAFILTRATION OF FERMENTED BROTHS AND SOLVENT-EXTRACTION OF ANTIBIOTICS

Experiments of ultrafiltration with diafiltration were SI performed on fermented broths of benzylpenicillin and SL clavulanic acid produced at pilot scale at CIPAN, SA to achieve solid/liquid separation, antibi otic recovery and soluble protein retention. This study was done using a laboratorial/pilot scale ultrafiltration facility from Paterson Can dy International Ltd. whose modules have a tubular configuration. PVDF membranes with a molecular weight cut-off of 100 000 (FP10) and 200 0 00 (FP200) were assessed. Comparison between solvent extraction of ben zylpenicillin and clavulanic acid from filtered broth and ultrafiltere d broth was also done. It was concluded that ultrafiltration with diaf iltration of fermented broths of antibiotics using the FP10 membrane i s a valid alternative to the use of rotary vacuum filters, flocculants and filter aid, deserving a further study to establish the best opera ting conditions. An economic appraisal also seems to be of paramount i mportance.