Abstract.
Pilot-scale reactive-extraction technology for fully integrated L-phenylalanine (L-Phe) separation in Escherichia coli fed-batch fermentations was investigated in order to prevent an inhibition of microbial L-Phe production by-product accumulation. An optimal reactive-extraction system, consisting of an organic kerosene phase with the cation-selective carrier DEHPA (di-2-ethylhexyl phosphonic acid) and an aqueous stripping phase including sulphuric acid, was found particularly efficient. Using this system with two membrane contactors, mass-transfer coefficients of up to 288×10–7 cm s–1 for the aqueous/organic and 77×10–7 cm s–1 for the organic/stripping phase were derived from experimental data using a simple modelling approach. Concentration factors higher than 4 were achieved in the stripping phase as compared to the aqueous donor phase. Reactive extraction enabled a 98% cation portion of L-Phe in the stripping phase, leading to final product purity higher than 99% after L-Phe precipitation. A doubling of L-Phe/glucose yield was observed when kerosene/DEHPA was added to the fermentation solution in the bioreactor to experimentally simulate a fully integrated L-Phe separation process.
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Maass, .D., Gerigk, .M., Kreutzer, .A. et al. Integrated L-phenylalanine separation in an E. coli fed-batch process: from laboratory to pilot scale. Bioprocess Biosyst Eng 25, 85–96 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-002-0279-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-002-0279-8