Interfacial mass transfer in extraction of amino acid by ALIQUAT 336 in organic phase

Abstract

Reactive extraction of L-phenylalanine from alkaline aqueous solution into xylene in the presence of tri-octyl-methyl-ammonium chloride (ALIQU AT 336) as complexing agent was studied using a stirred transfer cell. The study investigated the effects of carrier concentration and temperature on mass transfer rates. Transfer rate across the interface in the presence of surfactant molecules was also studied. A two-film model was proposed by considering film mass transfer resistances at the aqueous and organic phases. The model predicted adequately the experimental time-concentration data at different carrier concentrations and temperatures. The model was modified to take into account the presence of surfactant in the organic phase.