Reactive Extraction of Levulinic Acid by Amberlite LA-2 Extractant

The production of organic acids at relatively low concentrations in aqueous solutions is typical of both electrochemical and biochemical syntheses. The recovery of these solute species can be achieved by solvent extraction, and the reactive recovery of carboxylic acids from aqueous solutions has received increasing attention. In this study the reactive extraction of levulinic acid was done at 298.15 K, and all experiments were reported on the extraction of levulinic acid by Amberlite LA-2 dissolved in five different esters (dimethyl phthalate, dimethyl adipate, dimethyl succinate, dimethyl glutarate, and diethyl carbonate), five different alcohols (isoamyl alcohol, hexan-1-ol, octan-1-ol, nonan-1-ol, and decan-1-ol) and two different ketones (diisobutyl ketone (DIBK) and methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK)). Furthermore, single pure solvents (not containing Amberlite LA-2) were used for physical extraction. Experimental results of batch extraction experiments were calculated and reported as distribution coefficients (K(D)), loading factors (T(T)), stoichiometric loading factors (T(S)), separation factors (S(f)) and extraction efficiencies (E). The isoamyl alcohol was found to be the most effective solvent with a maximum distribution value (K(D)) of 68.017. According to the data determined from the experiments, a linear solvation energy relationship (LSER) model equation was found to calculate loading factors (T(T)) for the alcohols with an R(2) value of 0.98.