Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.3389/fbioe.2021.725578
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) A downstream processing cascade for separation of caproic and caprylic acid from maize silage-based fermentation broth
Author Braune, M.; Yuan, B.; Sträuber, H.; Mcdowall, S.C.; Nitzsche, R.; Gröngröft, A.
Source Titel Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
Year 2021
Department UMB
Volume 9
Page From art. 725578
Language englisch
Topic T7 Bioeconomy
Supplements https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/file/downloadfile/725578_html-zip/octet-stream/fbioe-09-725578-g004.gif/2/725578
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/file/downloadfile/725578_pubmed-zip/octet-stream/fbioe-09-725578-g007.tif/2/725578
Keywords Chain elongation, Anaerobic fermentation (AF), Medium-chain carboxylates, Ultrafiltration (UF), Liquid-liquid Extraction (LLE), Biorefinery
Abstract Production of caproic and caprylic acid through anaerobic fermentation of crops or residual and waste biomass has been regarded as an alternative to the conventional ways, where plant oils and animal fats are mostly used. The downstream processing of the fermentation broth is a particular challenge since the broth has a highly complex composition and low concentrations of the target products. In this study, the proof-of-principle for a separation cascade for caproic (C6) and caprylic acid (C8) produced in a maize silage-based fermentation process was demonstrated. For clarification of the fermentation broth, a filter press and a ceramic ultrafiltration membrane was used to remove coarse solids and to separate suspended particles and macromolecules from the fermentation broth, respectively. With both techniques, the dry matter content was reduced from 6.8 to 2.3% and a particle-free product solution was obtained. Subsequently, the carboxylic acids were extracted with oleyl alcohol by liquid-liquid extraction with an extraction efficiency of 85% for C6 and 97% for C8. Over the whole cascade, 58% of caproic acid and 66% of caprylic acid were recovered from the fermentation broth into the extract. Among all separation steps, solid-liquid separation with the filter press caused the major part of the product loss of 21% of each carboxylic acid. By using separation equipment with a better solid separation efficiency such as decanter centrifuges or belt filter presses this loss could be minimized.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=25004
Braune, M., Yuan, B., Sträuber, H., Mcdowall, S.C., Nitzsche, R., Gröngröft, A. (2021):
A downstream processing cascade for separation of caproic and caprylic acid from maize silage-based fermentation broth
Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol. 9 , art. 725578 10.3389/fbioe.2021.725578