title: In-line and selective phase separation of medium-chain carboxylic acids using membrane electrolysis.
abstract: We had extracted n-caproate from bioreactor broth. Here, we introduced in-line membrane electrolysis that utilized a pH gradient between two chambers to transfer the product into undissociated n-caproic acid without chemical addition. Due to the low maximum solubility of this acid, selective phase separation occurred, allowing simple product separation into an oily liquid containing ∼90% n-caproic and n-caprylic acid.
authors: Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, 226 Riley-Robb Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. la249@cornell.edu.
authors: Jiajie
authors: J
authors: Xu
authors: Juan J L
authors: JJ
authors: Guzman
authors: Stephen J
authors: SJ
authors: Andersen
authors: Korneel
authors: K
authors: Rabaey
authors: Largus T
authors: LT
authors: Angenent
mesh_terms: D002208:Caproates / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002210:Caprylates / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004572:Electrolysis / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008567:Membranes, Artificial
chemical_list: D002208:Caproates; D002210:Caprylates; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; C037652:hexanoic acid; C031492:octanoic acid