Dr. Cabezas-Cornejo, René

The downstream recovery of bio-based succinic acid (SA) from fermentation broths remains a critical challenge due to the presence of interfering compounds such as microorganisms, substrates, and coproducts. In this study, we developed a hybrid separation system combining selective dialysis through a cellulose acetate membrane with a hydrophobic phosphonium-based ionic liquid (P6,6,6,14[PHOS]) as the receiving phase. This approach was evaluated using a model Yarrowia lipolytica fermentation broth, and its performance was compared against an aqueous glucose phase under laminar flow conditions. Although the glucose phase exhibited a slightly higher SA flux (1.42 vs. 1.24 kg·m−2 ·h−1), the ionic liquid system demonstrated exceptional selectivity: 300 for SA/glycerol and 500 for SA/water, making it hundreds of times more selective than the glucose system. Integration of the membrane reduced ionic liquid losses, prevented contamination of the fermentation broth, and stabilized the separation interface, enabling consistent and sustainable performance. Mass transfer analysis revealed that the IL phase contributed 99% of the overall resistance, primarily due to the hydrophilic character of the membrane. These results underscore the potential of hydrophobic phosphonium ILs in membrane-based selective extraction, offering an efficient and environmentally friendly strategy for bio-based succinic acid recovery.

Ionic liquids have attracted widespread attention due to their low melting points, low vapor pressure, and non-flammability. However, their application at industrial scale is uncommon due to high costs and low recovering efficiency of the ionic liquids within the process. To reduce the costs and environmental effects of ionic liquids, this study proposes to use industrial microwave irradiation to recover eight different ionic liquids from water. The heating kinetics and identification between dielectric and convective heat properties were studied. Imidazolium-based ionic liquids showed the best results, reaching higher temperatures in shorter periods of time. Ionic liquid (bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) trihexyl(tetradecyl) phosphonium imide ([P6,6,6,14][Tf2N]) reached a temperature of 398 K in 360 s). On the other hand, the ionic liquid (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium methylsulfate ([bmim][CH3OSO3]) reached a temperature of 417 K in 150 s). the ionic liquid Microwave heating experiments (water/ionic liquids) demonstrated a 90% recovery in ∼200 s for 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([omim][Cl]). Finally, the time used to heat-up ionic liquids with microwave irradiation was 15 times shorter than the time employed with vacuum-assisted distillation. Therefore, microwave-assisted heating has shown to be an excellent form to heat ionic liquids to decrease the cost of the extraction process and improve their reusability.

Deep eutectic solvents (DES) are a category of a new class of solvents that can overcome some of the main drawbacks of typical solvents and ionic liquids (ILs). DES have been widely investigated and applied by the research community in several applications since their invention. Over the past years, the use of DES has been directed to the production of new materials and items for new products and processes. This is the case for the implementation of DES in various fields of chemical engineering directed to separations. DES have been very recently initiated to be combined into membranes for membrane processes. In this regard, this Review timely elucidates the current progress in utilizing this new generation of solvents in membrane preparation. In this work, different techniques, methods, and strategies for incorporating DES into polymer membranes for different concepts of membranes according to the final application have been reviewed. Particular emphasis has been devoted to the most relevant development works and results. After the current literature was analyzed, the main challenges and possibilities of DES in membranes were declared.