Microemulsion Extraction ofMonascusPigments from Nonionic Surfactant using High Polarity of Diethyl Ether as Excess Oil Phase

AbstractStripping of organic compound from nonionic surfactant micelle aqueous solution is indispensable for many industrial processes. In this paper, a relatively high polarity diethyl ether was screened for forming Winsor I microemulsion, which was used for stripping of organic compound from nonionic surfactant. Setting up extractive fermentation of Monascus pigments in Triton X-100 aqueous solution as a model, cloud point extraction of Monascus pigments from fermentation broth, and back-extraction of Monascus pigments from the coacervate phase of cloud point system by Winsor I microemulsion were conducted. Monascus pigments were successfully separated from nonionic surfactant into the excess diethyl ether phase.