Organic Acid Extraction Solution for Fermentation Broth
2024-01-03
Efficient Recovery of Lactic Acid, Citric Acid and Other Bio-Based Organic Acids
Organic acids such as lactic acid, citric acid, succinic acid and acetic acid are widely used in the food, pharmaceutical, chemical and biodegradable materials industries.
Among them, lactic acid is a key raw material for producing biodegradable polymer polylactic acid (PLA), which is considered one of the most promising alternatives to conventional plastics like polyethylene and polypropylene.
Most organic acids today are produced by microbial fermentation using renewable feedstocks such as:
- glucose
- starch
- sucrose
- cellulose
- agricultural biomass
However, fermentation broth typically contains:
❌low concentration of organic acids
❌microbial cells
❌proteins and salts
❌large amounts of water
Therefore, efficient downstream separation technology is required to recover and purify organic acids.
Our solvent extraction process using centrifugal extractors provides a continuous and highly efficient solution for organic acid recovery.
Organic Acid Extraction Process Flow
Step 1 – Fermentation Broth Pretreatment
Before solvent extraction, the fermentation broth is pretreated to remove suspended solids and adjust process conditions.
Typical pretreatment steps include:
☑️filtration or centrifugation to remove microbial cells
☑️microfiltration or ultrafiltration
☑️pH adjustment to optimize extraction efficiency
☑️Pretreatment ensures stable extraction performance and prevents equipment fouling.
Step 2 – Multi-Stage Solvent Extraction
The clarified fermentation broth is fed into multi-stage liquid-liquid extraction equipment, where organic acids are selectively transferred from the aqueous phase into the organic solvent.
Extraction is usually performed in counter-current mode to achieve high recovery efficiency.
Compared with conventional extraction equipment, centrifugal extractors provide several advantages:
✅extremely fast phase separation
✅high mass transfer efficiency
✅compact equipment size
✅continuous operation
✅low solvent inventory
This makes them particularly suitable for biochemical fermentation industries.
Step 3 – Back Extraction (Stripping)
After extraction, the organic solvent contains the extracted organic acids.
In the stripping stage:
➤alkaline solution or other stripping agents are used
➤organic acids are transferred back into the aqueous phase
➤a concentrated organic acid solution is obtained
This step allows both product recovery and solvent regeneration.
Step 4 – Solvent Regeneration and Recycling
The regenerated solvent is washed and recycled back to the extraction section.
Benefits:
✅reduced solvent consumption
✅stable extraction performance
✅lower operating cost
Key Equipment for Organic Acid Extraction
A typical system includes:
☑️Liquid-liquid centrifugal extractor
☑️feed pumps and flow meters
☑️extraction solvent storage tank
☑️stripping reactor
☑️solvent washing system
☑️control system
Our centrifugal extractors are designed for:
✅continuous operation
✅high throughput
✅laboratory to industrial scale-up
✅Organic Acids That Can Be Recovered
This extraction technology can be applied to many fermentation products:
➜lactic acid
➜citric acid
➜succinic acid
➜acetic acid
➜propionic acid
➜butyric acid
Advantages of Solvent Extraction for Organic Acid Recovery
Compared with traditional separation methods such as precipitation or direct evaporation, solvent extraction offers several advantages:
✅high selectivity for organic acids
✅efficient recovery from dilute solutions
✅continuous operation
✅reduced energy consumption
✅scalable process design
Industries Using Organic Acid Extraction
➜biochemical fermentation industry
➜biodegradable plastics (PLA) production
➜food additives manufacturing
➜pharmaceutical fermentation
➜biotechnology companies
➜fermentation research institutes
FAQ-Organic Acid Extraction Solution for Fermentation Broth
1.What is the best method for recovering lactic acid from fermentation broth?
Solvent extraction is widely used for recovering lactic acid from fermentation broth because it provides high selectivity and efficient separation.
2.Why use centrifugal extractors for organic acid extraction?
Centrifugal extractors provide rapid phase separation, compact equipment design and continuous operation, making them ideal for biochemical fermentation processes.
3.Can this process be scaled from laboratory to industrial production?
Yes. The process can be developed using laboratory extraction equipment and then scaled up to pilot and industrial production systems.
➡️Contact Us for Organic Acid Extraction Solutions
If you are developing a lactic acid, citric acid or other fermentation-based organic acid production process, our engineering team can provide:
➤laboratory extraction testing
➤pilot-scale process development
➤industrial extraction system design
➤Contact us today to discuss your project.
