Performance comparison of precipitation strategies for recovering succinic acid from carob pod-based fermentation broths

ABSTRACT

Experiments were performed for comparing and selecting the most appropriate precipitation strategy for succinic acid (SA) recovery from carob pod extract fermentation broths. The performances of three downstream options – employing calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide or ammonia – were investigated and compared from operational, techno-economical and sustainability viewpoints. The highest SA recovery (84.3%) was obtained with ammonia, whereas the calcium-based treatment proved inadequate. Sustainability indicators favoured magnesium-based treatment, closely followed by the ammonia-based one. A preliminary economic analysis favours magnesium-based treatment, which appears to be the most feasible option. However, materials recycling and possible by-products commercialization could well position also ammonia-based treatment.

KEYWORDS:

• Succinic acid recovery
• precipitation
• carob pod
• fermentation broth

Acknowledgements

Paulina A. Sosa gratefully acknowledges the European Commission for her grant to join the EM3E program at Universidade NOVA de Lisboa. The authors would like to thank M. Carvalho for supplying carob pod fermentation broths.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Associated Laboratory for Sustainable Chemistry – Clean Processes and Technologies – LAQV, which is financed by Portuguese national funds from FCT/MEC [UID/QUI/50006/2013] and co-financed by the ERDF under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement [POCI-01-0145-FEDER – 007265].