Acid-functionalized PVA composite membranes for pervaporation-assisted esterification.

Composite flat-sheet membranes functionalized with imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) grafted to poly(vinyl alcohol)/glutaraldehyde as a catalytic layer were developed to enhance the esterification between -butanol and acetic acid. The functionalized membranes were produced dip-coating commercial pervaporation membranes, and two distinct Brønsted-acidic ILs with an imidazolium-based cation and different (hydrogen sulfate [HSO] or bromide [Br]) anions were compared. Compact, 12 μm-thick, defect-free catalytic layers were observed on top of the pervaporation membrane supports, and the determined penetration depth of the ILs confirmed their presence in the upper part of the coating.

A Novel Bio-Purification Process Employing an Engineered Strain for Downstream Processing of Lactic Acid Solutions from the Fermentation of Agro-Industrial by-Products.

This study aims to integrate a novel bio-purification process employing an engineered strain in the downstream processing of lactic acid (LA) fermentation broths from low-cost renewable biological feedstocks. Fermentation broth of candy waste and digestate mixture was used as a real biological feedstock. An engineered strain that selectively catabolize impurities without catabolizing LA was initially adapted on the biological feedstock, followed by shake flask experiments to prove the bio-purification concept.

Development of a hybrid bio-purification process of lactic acid solutions employing an engineered E. coli strain in a membrane bioreactor.

Background: A potential alternative to lactic acid production through sugar fermentation is its recovery from grass silage leachate. The separation and purification of lactic acid from fermentation broths remain a key issue, as it amounts to up to 80% of its industrial production cost. In this study, a genetically engineered E.

Design of a Gas Permeation and Pervaporation Membrane Model for an Open Source Process Simulation Tool.

Gas permeation and pervaporation are technologies that emerged several decades ago. Even though they have discovered increasing popularity for industrial separation processes, they are not represented equally within process simulation tools except for commercial systems. The availability of such a numerical solution shall be extended due to the design of a membrane model with Visual Basic based on the solution-diffusion model.