Supported Liquid Membrane Composed of Tertiary or/and Quaternary Amine for the Extraction of Lactic Acid

Abstract

The present work deals with the extraction of lactic acid from aqueous solution, fermentation broth and buttermilk by supported liquid membrane. The mixed amine extractant system of tertiary amine (Tri-octyl-amine) and quaternary amine (Aliquat^TM 336) in xylene was used in the supported liquid membrane The parameters such as effect of mixed amine extractant system, its ratios and concentration, stirring speed, strip: feed phase volume, and solute permeability as well as extraction efficiencies were calculated. The extraction of lactic acid from fermentation broth using standardised supported liquid membrane conditions showed 17.3% and 31.9% extraction with deionized water and Na₂CO₃ solutionas the strip phase respectively and from buttermilk: 67 and 65.9% extraction with deionized water and Na₂CO₃ solution as the strip phase, respectively. The present study demonstrates the potential of supported liquid membrane composed of a combination of tertiary amine and quaternary amine as carriers for lactic acid extraction from aqueous and real systems.