RECOVERY AND CONCENTRATION OF HIGH VAPOR-PRESSURE BIOPRODUCTS BY MEANS OF CONTROLLED MEMBRANE SEPARATION

The continuous production of high vapour pressure bioproducts by coupling a membrane separator to a conventional fermentor is described. The separation problem is analysed using ethanol fermentation with yeasts as an example. Based on the results of this analysis, pervaporation was chosen to recover the product selectively and simultaneously to retain the microorganisms and nutrients in the fermentation broth. composite hollow fibre membranes are contacted with active fermentation broth. A transmembrane flux is generated by lowering the partial pressure of the permeants on the downstream side of the membrane. Long-time experiments confirmed that membrane properties were constant.