Optimization of extraction tower structure and extraction conditions for lincomycin separation

Abstract

Lincomycin is a widely used aminoglycoside antibiotic. For its separation from fermentation broth in production, solvent extraction is usually applied because of its low cost and high capacity compared to other bioseparation methods. The multistage mixer-settler is a common extraction equipment in commercial production, but it occupies a large area and causes pollution. In this study, a fully enclosed turbine tower was designed and applied in order to replace the mixer-settler. Its structure parameters (turbine diameter, tray porosity) were optimized on the basis of the extraction effect of lincomycin. The results showed that with 35% tray porosity and 28/26 mm turbine diameter of the tower, the extraction rate was kept above 99.0% steadily under 375 rpm/min rotating speed and 60 °C temperature. The extraction effect is much better than mixer-settler and such turbine tower is expected to be applied in the commercial production of lincomycin.

Keywords:

• Lincomycin
• turbine extraction tower
• extraction rate

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Shanghai Zhihua Extraction Techology Co., Ltd. for its help in the manufacture of extraction tower.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The authors sincerely appreciate financial support and fermentation broth from Topfond Pharmaceutical Company.