Reactive extraction of penicillin G in a pilot plant Karr-column III. Modelling and simulation of the extraction process

Summary

The longitudinal concentration profiles of penicillin the continuous aqueous phase of a pilot plant Karr-column of 7.6 m height was calculated by a mathematic model consisting of reaction rate and cascase models. Satisfactory agreements between calculated and measured profiles were found. The identified mass transfer coefficients are identical in the bench-scale and pilot plant columns, in the model medium and fermentation medium as well as at different stroke frequencies. The specific interfacial area are strongly influenced by these parameters. The model can be used for calculation of penicillin extraction columns of different sizes. For the layout of the columns, hydrodynamic data are needed, which, however, cannot yet be calculated on a theoretical basis.