Selective extraction of 1,3‐propanediol by phenylboronic acid‐based ternary extraction system

BACKGROUND Conventional methods for the separation of 1,3‐propanediol (1,3‐PDO) are problematic in many ways. The study of a simple and efficient separation process was the key to solving the bottlenecks that have restricted the large‐scale development of 1,3‐PDO. In order to solve the difficulty of separating 1,3‐PDO from fermentation broths, a ternary selective extraction system was constructed to separate 1,3‐PDO from a simulated solution and fermentation broth. RESULTS In this study, quantum chemistry calculation and wave function analysis showed that the reaction between phenylboronic acid and 1,3‐PDO is thermodynamically feasible, stable and covalently reversible. The ternary extraction system was composed of 1‐naphthylboric acid, dichloromethane and Aliquat 336. After optimization of the extraction conditions, a high extraction efficiency of 82.6% could be achieved for 1,3‐PDO. Meanwhile, the stripping recovery of 1,3‐PDO was over 90%, with a high purity (98.6%), from a simulated solution using 0.4 mol L −1 hydrochloric acid as stripping solution. The extraction selectivity of 1,3‐PDO to glycerol, acetic acid and butyric acid in the fermentation broth reached 12.9, 230.6 and 233.7, respectively, implying a high selective performance compared with the aldehyde‐based traditional reactive extraction. CONCLUSION The ternary extraction system exhibited good extraction performance, highlighting the potential for selective extraction of diol biochemicals from fermentation broths.