SEPARATION OF L-PHENYLALANINE BY NONDISPERSIVE EXTRACTION AND BACKEXTRACTION - EQUILIBRIUM AND KINETIC-PARAMETERS

The objective of this work is the evaluation of the separation/concent ration of L-phenylalanine by means of nondispersive extraction and bac kextraction in hol; low fiber modules and the determination of the equ ilibrium and kinetic parameters, which will allow the description of t he separation process. An organic solution based on Aliquat 336, 30% ( v/v); isodecanol, 30% (v/v); and kerosene is used as a selective extra ction medium. The extraction of L-phenylalanine takes place at pH 10.5 , and the backextraction takes place at pH 0.5, with a sulfuric acid s olution. The nondispersive extraction and backextraction process for t he separation/concentration of L-phenylalanine is described by means o f a mathematical model based on seven differential equations. Its reso lution is performed by the gPROMS simulation package after introductio n of the chemical equilibrium extraction parameters K-qE = 1.32 and K- 1 = 1.25 x 10(-3), allowing calculation of the optimum value of the ma ss transfer coefficient, K-M = 1.12 x 10(-8) mis, which is in the rang e of previously reported values. This model and its parameters are use ful for establishing the viability of the industrial separation/concen tration processes of L-phenylalanine.