(555b) Adsorptive Product Recovery From a Fermentation Broth Using a Nitrogen Source for Regeneration

Continuous product removal can increase the productivity and economic validity of fermentations when the productivity is limited by product degradation, inhibitory or toxicity effects of the product. Furthermore, in state-of-the-art fermentations for the production of high purity acids or bases, excessive large volumes of salty waste streams are produced. Integration of these fermentation processes with the appropriate product removal technique during fermentation can increase the productivity and overcome the production of salty waste streams. In this study a process based on adsorptive monoethanolamine (MEA) removal from a fermentation broth using the nitrogen source (NH3) for regeneration and thereby preventing the production of salty waste streams was developed. MEA is an intermediate in the manufacturing of many chemicals which are applied in the fields of gas purification, surfactants, cement additives and textile chemicals. Currently MEA is produced chemically, but the rising price of the raw material naphtha is an important incentive to study biotechnology routes. Furthermore, the relatively low concentration levels in a fermentation broth necessitate efficient product removal.