COVENANT UNIVERSITY, OTA

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

EXTRACTION OF ESSENTIAL ORGANIC ACID BY LEACHING

BY

JEGEDE KENDRA TEMITOPE

20CF027266

SUBMITTED TO

THE DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

CHE 340

10TH OF MAY,2023.

I
ABSTRACT
Organic acids play an essential role in the renewable biorefinery sector. Because of
their diverse functions and less hazardous qualities, they are widely used in a number of
sectors. Organic acids are traditionally created through chemical processing of fossil
source materials. However, due to growing environmental concern and a shift toward
green technology, the biological production pathway has received a lot of attention in
recent years. Microbial fermentation has created a wide range of high-value organic
acids, including succinic, lactic, butyric, acetic, and fumaric acids. The downstream
recovery of the major products from the broth solution is the key hurdle in the
fermentative synthesis of organic acids. Integration of membrane technology with other
separation technologies in downstream processing is viewed as a tremendous
possibility for this purpose, with membrane-based nanofiltration identified as a
promising technique. Nanofiltration has various advantages, including tremendous
flexibility in production scale, a high degree of separation and selectivity, and the ability
to seamlessly interface with other separation units. This research examines the
recovery of organic acids from fermentation broth utilizing nanofiltration technology, with
a focus on five different types of organic acids. This work highlights important data
about the effect of membrane characteristics, membrane type, and processing
parameters on organic acid recovery.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE…………………………………………………………………….1

ABSTRACT................................................................................................ .2

CHAPTER ONE:INTRODUCTION..............................................................4

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW …………………………………7

REFERENCES......................................................................................... 12
CHAPTER ONE: LEACHING, ORGANIC ACIDS AND FERMENTATION
BROTH LEACHING

1.1 AIM
The aim of extracting essential organic acids by leaching is to separate these acids from
solid materials or other compounds by using a solvent that selectively dissolves the
organic acids. Leaching is a process where a solvent is passed over a solid material to
dissolve the target compounds, allowing for their separation and eventual recovery. This
method is often employed in industries such as pharmaceuticals, food processing, and
environmental remediation to extract valuable organic acids from raw materials or waste
streams. The extracted organic acids can then be further purified or utilized for various
purposes, such as in the production of medicines, food additives, or biochemicals.

1.2 OBJECTIVE
The objective of extracting essential organic acids by leaching is to isolate these
acids from solid materials or other compounds using a suitable solvent. This
process aims to achieve a selective dissolution of the organic acids, separating
them from the solid matrix or other components in the mixture. By doing so, the
desired organic acids can be concentrated in the leachate (the solution containing
the dissolved acids) while leaving behind undesired substances. The ultimate goal
is to obtain a purified solution of the organic acids that can be further processed or
utilized for various industrial applications, such as in the pharmaceutical, food, or
chemical industries.

1.3 INTRODUCTION
Extraction of organic acids from fermentation broth by leaching is another approach to
isolate and purify organic acids from complex mixtures. The leaching process involves
the use of a solvent to selectively dissolve the organic acid from the fermentation broth.
The aim of this project is to extract organic acids from fermentation broth by leaching
using a suitable solvent and optimizing the process parameters.

Leaching can be defined as a mass-transfer process which takes place through the
extraction of a substance from a solid material which has come in contact with the liquid
in question. It can also be referred to as solid-liquid extraction or lixiviation. It is a normal
mechanism by which water-soluble compounds from soil or waste are washed out.
Leaching is one of the fundamental processes in chemical engineering and has a series
of various steps. Firstly, the solvent comes in close contact with the solid matrix. A

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solvent is a liquid substance that performs the functions for dissolving a substance or a
solute. A solute is a substance that a solvent dissolves. Hence, the solvent will become
the liquid and the solute would be the substance we would extract from the solid. As the
solvent moves through the solid, separating the substance or solute, we can then collect
it (the residue). This step is usually known as percolation. Percolation is essentially
filtering the solute from the solid, using a solvent.

1.2 ORGANIC ACIDS

An organic acid is an organic compound which has acidic characteristics. The stability
of the conjugate base of the acid determines what the acidity of that acid will be.

1.2.1 EXAMPLES OF ORGANIC ACIDS

lactic acid

acetic acid

formic acid

citric acid

oxalic acid

uric acid

malic acid

tartaric acid

1.2.2 CHARACTERISTICS OF ORGANIC ACIDS

. Organic acids do not dissociate completely in water

. They are soluble in organic solvents

. Acids with lower molecular mass are miscible in water, but organic acids with higher
molecular mass are insoluble .

1.2.3 APPLICATIONS

. They are used for oil and gas well stimulation treatments.

. They are used for buffer solutions.

. They can be used as rust removal.

. They can be used in food preservation.

1.3FERMENTATION BROTH

Fermentation broth is a liquid medium used in the fermentation process to grow and
nourish microorganisms such as bacteria, fungus, or yeast. The broth is often made up
of nutrients such as carbohydrates, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, which supply
the microbes with the resources they need to thrive and produce the desired output.
Microorganisms metabolize the nutrients in the broth throughout the fermentation
process, producing a variety of by-products such as organic acids, alcohols, enzymes,
and other metabolites.

The fermentation broth's composition can vary based on the microorganism utilized and
the desired result. The broth can be tuned for microbial growth and productivity by
altering parameters such as pH, temperature, aeration, and agitation.

When the fermentation process is finished, the broth can be harvested and further
processed to isolate and purify the desired products, such as organic acids.
Fermentation broth is used in a variety of processes, including the manufacture of
antibiotics, enzymes, food additives, and biofuels. It is a vital tool in biotechnology and
plays an important part in the creation of many things we use every day.

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CHAPTER TWO:LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 LEACHING PROCESS FOR THE EXTRACTION OF ORGANIC ACIDS FROM

FERMENTATION BROTH

The leaching process for the extraction of essential organic acids typically involves
several key steps:

Selection of Solvent: Choose a solvent that has a high affinity for the organic acids
you want to extract while being selective enough to minimize the dissolution of other
compounds present in the mixture. The solvent should also be compatible with the
subsequent processing steps.

Preparation of Solid Material: Prepare the solid material containing the organic acids
for leaching. This may involve size reduction (grinding or crushing) to increase the
surface area available for contact with the solvent and enhance the extraction efficiency.

Contacting Solid with Solvent: Bring the solvent into contact with the solid material
containing the organic acids. This can be achieved through methods such as stirring,
agitation, or percolation, depending on the scale and nature of the operation. Ensure
sufficient contact time between the solvent and the solid material to allow for effective
extraction.

Extraction of Organic Acids: The organic acids dissolve into the solvent, forming a
solution known as the leachate. This solution contains the extracted organic acids along
with any other soluble components that may have been leached from the solid material.

Separation: Separate the leachate from the remaining solid material. This can be done
by filtration, decantation, or centrifugation, depending on the characteristics of the
mixture and the desired purity of the leachate.

Recovery and Purification: Further process the leachate to recover and purify the
organic acids. This may involve techniques such as solvent evaporation, crystallization,
distillation, or chromatography to isolate and concentrate the target compounds from the
solvent and other impurities.
 Product Handling: Handle the purified organic acids according to their intended use.
They may be stored, further processed into final products, or utilized directly in various
industrial applications.

Throughout the leaching process, parameters such as temperature, pH, solvent-to-solid

ratio, and agitation intensity may be optimized to maximize extraction efficiency and
product quality. Additionally, considerations for environmental impact and safety should
be taken into account when designing and operating the extraction process.

2.2 DESCRIPTION OF THE EQUIPMENTS USED

1. Extraction Vessel: Contains fermentation broth and extraction solvent.

2. Agitation System: Ensures thorough mixing.
3. Separation Equipment: Separates solvent phase from aqueous phase.
4. Liquid-Liquid Extraction Columns: Enhances extraction efficiency.
5. Filtration Equipment: Removes solid particles.
6. Evaporation Systems: Concentrates solvent phase.
7. Distillation Apparatus: Separates organic acids from solvent.
8. Analytical Instruments: Monitor and analyze the process.

2.3 METHOD OF EXTRACTION

1. Selection of Extraction Solvent: Choose a solvent with a high affinity for the organic
acids of interest while being selective enough to minimize the extraction of unwanted
components from the fermentation broth.
2. Mixing: Introduce the fermentation broth into an extraction vessel or column and add
the extraction solvent. Ensure thorough mixing of the two phases using agitation
equipment such as stirrers or mixers. This promotes contact between the solvent and
the organic acids in the broth.
3. Contacting: Allow the fermentation broth and extraction solvent to interact for a specific
duration to facilitate the transfer of organic acids from the aqueous phase of the broth to
the solvent phase. This may involve continuous mixing or batch-wise agitation.
4. Separation: After the extraction period, separate the solvent phase containing the
extracted organic acids from the aqueous phase of the fermentation broth. This can be
achieved using separation equipment such as centrifuges, decanters, or settling tanks.
5. Recovery: Further process the solvent phase to recover the organic acids. This may
involve concentration of the solvent phase through evaporation or purification
techniques such as distillation or chromatography to isolate the organic acids from other
solvent components and impurities.

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 Throughout the extraction process, monitor and control parameters such as
temperature, agitation speed, solvent-to-broth ratio, and extraction time to optimize
efficiency and product quality. Conduct regular quality control checks to ensure that the
extracted organic acids meet desired specifications for purity and concentration.

2.4 METHOD OF OPERATION FOR PURIFICATION

1. Concentration: If the extracted organic acids are diluted in the solvent phase, they may
need to be concentrated to increase their concentration. This can be achieved through
evaporation or other concentration techniques to reduce the volume of the solvent and
increase the concentration of organic acids.
2. Precipitation: Some organic acids can be selectively precipitated from solution by
adjusting pH, temperature, or adding certain reagents. Precipitation helps to separate
the organic acids from other components present in the solvent phase. Once
precipitated, the organic acids can be separated by filtration or centrifugation.
3. Crystallization: Crystallization is another method used to purify organic acids. By
controlling factors such as temperature, solvent composition, and cooling rate, the
organic acids can be induced to crystallize out of solution. The resulting crystals can be
separated from the solvent by filtration or centrifugation.
4. Distillation: Distillation is commonly used for purifying organic acids that have high
boiling points compared to the solvent. By heating the solvent phase, the organic acids
can be vaporized and then condensed back into a separate vessel, leaving behind
impurities and solvent. This method is particularly effective for purifying organic acids
from volatile solvents.
5. Chromatography: Chromatography techniques such as column chromatography or
high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) can be employed for further
purification of organic acids. These techniques separate the organic acids based on their
 different affinities for a stationary phase and a mobile phase. The purified organic acids
are collected as they elute from the column.
6. Recrystallization: Recrystallization is a purification technique that involves dissolving
the crude organic acids in a minimum volume of hot solvent and then allowing the
solution to cool slowly. As the solution cools, the organic acids crystallize out in a more
pure form, while impurities remain dissolved. The purified crystals can be separated by
filtration or centrifugation.
7. Drying: Once the organic acids have been purified, they may need to be dried to
remove any residual solvent. This can be achieved by evaporating off the solvent under
reduced pressure or by using drying agents such as desiccants.

2.5 BENEFITS OF EXTRACTING ORGANIC ACIDS FROM FERMENTATION BROTH

Extraction of organic acids from fermentation broth has a number of advantages,

including:

1. Value-added product: Organic acids are used widely in a variety of sectors, such as
the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Organic acids that can
be extracted from fermentation broth can be offered as a value-added product for use in
these sectors.

2. Decreased waste: The removal of organic acids from fermentation broth can aid in
decrementing waste. The fermentation broth, which may have significant quantities of
organic acids, can be discarded, but the acids can also be extracted and utilised.

3. Process optimization: The fermentation process can be made more efficient by

extracting organic acids from fermentation broth. The fermentation process might move
along more quickly if the organic acids in the broth are taken out.

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REFERENCES

organic acids - Search (bing.com)

What is a fermentation broth - Search (bing.com)

leaching extensive definition - Search (bing.com)

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