Mild stir-assisted membrane dispersion for enhancing propionic acid extraction

Mild stir-assisted membrane dispersion extraction (MDE) method was employed to enhance propionic acid (HA) extraction and compared to the mechanical stirred extraction (MSE) method. Triocylamine (TOA) and tributyl phosphate (TBP) were chosen as model extractant to extract HA. Firstly, droplet size and the size distribution of organic phase were analyzed, and then the effects of phase ratio, extractant and HA concentration on extraction performance were investigated. Comparing the two extraction methods, the results show mild stir-assisted MDE method reduced the mass transfer equilibrium time compared to MSE method. The mass transfer mechanism was explored by analyzing mass transfer resistance. Mild stir-assisted MDE had less total mass transfer resistance than MSE. When the extractant concentration was 40%, the extraction process was controlled by organic phase mass transfer process with HA volume fraction was 1% and controlled by both of reaction process and organic phase mass transfer process when HA concentration increased to 5%. This work may provide a new type of extraction method for the recovery of organic carboxylic acid.