Reactive Extraction of 1,3-Propanediol from Model Mixture of Fermentation Broth Using Novel Carbon Based Catalyst

Abstract

This study deals with the development of a novel carbon based catalyst for use in reactive extraction, to separate 1,3-PDO from a model solution of the fermentation broth. The catalyst was synthesized by incomplete carbonization of naphthalene, in sulfuric acid at 523 K. The surface area and pore volume of the catalyst were found to be 1.1 m2 g-1 and 0.07 cm3 g-1, respectively. The acidity of the catalyst was 1.46 mmol/g. The test of the catalyst for the acetalization of acetaldehyde and 1,3-PDO in an aqueous solution indicated its applicability for such a reaction. The optimal quantity of the catalyst required for this reaction was 0.7 g/ g 1,3-PDO, giving a conversion of approximately 92%, after 2 h of reaction at 35°C. In addition to acetalization reaction, a reactive extraction was also carried out, using ethyl-benzene as an extractant. At 40 g/L of initial 1, 3-PDO solution, a typical concentration of 1, 3-PDO was derived from the fermentation process, the conversion was found to be 78.92% after 60 min for a reactive extraction at 35°C. The results of this study thus confirm the potential application of the lower cost carbon-based catalyst to replace the expensive polymeric ion exchange resins, for 1,3-PDO reactive extraction.