Whole broth extraction in an electrically enhanced liquid liquid contact system

Preliminary steps in the scale up of electrically enhanced extraction techniques for recovery from whole broths are described. The experimental integration of electrically enhanced extraction methodology into an in-line nozzle assembly operated in conjunction with a cyclonic liquid liquid mixer is demonstrated, with encouraging results. It was shown that rates of mass transfer of ethanol from yeast extract culture broths into tri-n-butyl phosphate can be doubled using this technique without significant increase in net energy consumption and without detriment to phase separation. Future possibilities for contactor design are discussed in the light of the results and include the combination of electrical and centrifugal fields for enhanced whole broth extraction.