Investigation and characterization of liquid two-phase systems for the separation of crystal mixtures by interfacial partitioning

• Published in: Biotechnology and bioengineering Vol. 93; no. 4; pp. 607 - 617
• Main Authors: Hoeben, Martijn A., van Hee, Pim, van der Lans, Rob G.J.M., Kwant, Gerard, van der Wielen, Luuk A.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 05.03.2006; Wiley; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: 1-Butanol - chemistry; Adsorption; Alkanes - chemistry; ampicillin; Ampicillin - chemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; Crystallization; Crystals; Flocculation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glycine - analogs & derivatives; Glycine - chemistry; interfacial partitioning; Liquids; Methanol - chemistry; particle recovery; Pentanes - chemistry; phenylglycine; solid-solid separation; two-phase system; Water; Water - chemistry; Separation method; solid-solid separation; Biphasic system; particle recovery; two-phase system; Ampicillin; Crystals; Liquid phase; interfacial partitioning; Solid solid; phenylglycine
• ISSN: 0006-3592; 1097-0290
• DOI: 10.1002/bit.20653

The interfacial partitioning behavior of ampicillin and phenylglycine crystals in different two‐phase systems has been investigated. The two‐phase systems employed are water/dodecane, water/1‐butanol, and water/pentane/methanol. By means of partition experiments and microscopic imaging, it has been shown that the mechanism of separation strongly depends on the choice of the two‐phase system. While water/dodecane features a mechanism of sheer competitive adsorption at the interface, separation in water/1‐butanol is mainly due to partitioning into both liquid phases, leading to a higher degree of separation. Experiments with water/pentane/methanol have illustrated the large potential of three‐component systems, as slight variations in the composition can have large effects on the separation. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.