Silicone membrane contactor for selective volatile fatty acid and alcohol separation

Abstract The effect of pH and extraction temperature on flux, recovery, mass transfer coefficient separation factor volatile fatty acids (VFAs) alcohols from synthetic solutions cheese whey fermentate was investigated using a silicone membrane contactor with water as extractant. allowed undissociated only, resulting in substantially higher recovery efficiencies at 3 than 5. Furthermore, the non-porous favoured longer chain over shorter acids. Caproic acid extracted highest flux 1.30 (± 0.02) g m?2 h?1 short time (32 h), 41.5 % efficiency 20 °C, indicating feasibility its selective VFA mixture. A similar trend observed for alcohols, butanol being 39 40 against 32 19 propanol ethanol, respectively, while coefficients were not affected by temperature. When applying to real 3, butyric acetic 21.5 7% efficiency, suggesting fermentate.