Extraction of whole fermentation broth with karr reciprocating plate extraction column

The conventional equipment employed in the pharmaceutical industry for extracting fermentation broths is the centrifugal extractor. However, a recent case history indicates that the Karr Reciprocating Plate Extraction Column should be considered for such applications. A pharmaceutical company had been using a Podbielniak centrifugal extractor to extract a whole fermentation broth. However, they could not feed the broth to the extractor unless they pretreated the broth by a “hand wash” or a preliminary batch extraction. Subsequently, it required three passes through the centrifugal machine to achieve the desired degree of extraction. On the other hand, with one pass through the Karr Column, essentially complete extraction was achieved. The advantages evident included a 55% reduction in solvent requirements, and substantially less capital cost, utilities cost, maintenance cost, and solvent losses.