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Enantioseparation of chiral aromatic acids in process intensified liquid–liquid extraction columns
Author(s) -
Holbach Alexander,
Godde Julia,
Mahendrarajah Ramanan,
Kockmann Norbert
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
aiche journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.958
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1547-5905
pISSN - 0001-1541
DOI - 10.1002/aic.14654
Subject(s) - countercurrent exchange , enantiomer , chemistry , extraction (chemistry) , enantioselective synthesis , selectivity , liquid–liquid extraction , chromatography , cyclodextrin , separation process , molecule , organic chemistry , catalysis , thermodynamics , physics
Enantioselective liquid–liquid extraction (ELLE) is a powerful alternative to common technologies for separation of racemic mixtures. The first application of ELLE for aromatic acids in liquid–liquid extraction columns is described. The ELLE is investigated experimentally and theoretically for phenylsuccinic acid (PSA) as a representative for aromatic acids. A racemic mixture of (R/S)‐PSA is separated with hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin as selector molecule. The ELLE obtained the highest operative selectivity (α op = 1.8–2) for low pH‐values and temperatures. Because of the low operative selectivity, a countercurrent process is necessary to separate both enantiomers completely. The countercurrent process is investigated in process intensified extraction columns (Ø in = 15 mm) with a high number of equilibrium stages. The experiments demonstrate a good symmetric separation with an enantiomeric excess of 60% and yields of 80% for both enantiomers. Finally, the back extraction is investigated to recycle the selector molecule and increase the efficiency. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J , 61: 266–276, 2015