Fractionation of dicarboxylic acids produced by Rhizopus oryzae using reactive extraction

Fumaric, malic, and succinic acids have been selectively separated from their mixture obtained by Rhizopus oryzae fermentation using reactive extraction with Amberlite LA-2 dissolved in three solvents with different dielectric constants (n-heptane, n-butyl acetate, and dichloromethane). This technique allows recovering preferentially fumaric acid from the mixture, the raffinate containing only malic and succinic acids. The extractant concentration and organic phase polarity control the efficiency and selectivity of acids extraction. The increase of aqueous phase viscosity reduces the extraction yield for all studied acids, but exhibits a positively effect on separation selectivity. By using Amberlite LA-2 concentration equal to that stoichiometrically required for interfacial reaction with fumaric acid and mixing intensity which does not allow higher diffusion rates for larger molecules (malic and succinic acids), the maximum value of fumaric acid extraction rate exceeds 90%, while the selectivity factor value becomes 20. Regardless of the extraction system, the complete separation of fumaric acid from their mixture is possible by multi-stage extraction process, adjusting the extractant concentration in each stage. At higher values of aqueous phase viscosity, more extraction stages are required, while the increase of solvent polarity reduce the required number of stages for total recovery of fumaric acid.