The study of reactive extraction of lactic acid
with TOA dissolved in diluents indicated that the
reactive extraction occurred by means of the interfacial
formation of solvates between lactic acid and
TOA. Different parameters like distribution coefficient,
stripping efficiency, effect of extractant:diluent
ratio, temperature, agitation time and agitation speed
on the extraction efficiency were studied. The distribution
coefficient was higher for active diluents,
whereas it was low for inert diluents. So extraction
efficiency was greater for the active diluents than for
inert diluents. The extraction efficiency decreased
with increasing temperature because of the exothermic
reaction between amine and acid, whereas it did
not make any major difference on the extraction
efficiency in the case of inert diluents. The extraction
efficiency was sharply increased with an increase in
concentration of active diluent. Therefore, the solubility
of the reaction complex in the active diluents,
as well as the extractability of amine, is an important
factor in the extraction of lactic acid. Variation of
inert diluent had little influence on the extraction
efficiencies. The extraction efficiency was little affected
by speed of agitation and agitation time