United States Patent: SILICALITE MEMBRANE AND METHOD FOR THE SELECTIVE RECOVERY AND CONCENTRATION OF ACETONE AND BUTANOL FROM MODEL ABE SOLUTIONS AND FERMENTATION BROTH

Authors

Michael M. Meagher, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Nasibuddin Qureshi, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Robert W. Hutkins, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

May 1998

Comments

United States Patent. Patent Number: 5,755,967.

Abstract

Silicalite. silicalite filled polymer membrane. and process for the selective adsorption of acetone and butanol from aqueous solutions thereof. The silicalite. silicalite filled polymer membrane. and process are particularly suited to the removal of acetone and butanol from Closfridium acetobutylicum fermentation media in that the membrane is not fouled by the fermentation media and may be used without removing the cells from the fermentation media. The silicalite and silicalite filled polymer membrane show excellent selectivity to the adsorption of acetone and butanol relative to the ethanol, acetic acid, and butyric acid components of the fermentation media.