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Present state and perspective of downstream processing of biologically produced 1,3-propanediol and 2,3-butanediol

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Abstract

1,3-Propanediol and 2,3-butanediol are two promising chemicals which have a wide range of applications and can be biologically produced. The separation of these diols from fermentation broth makes more than 50% of the total costs in their microbial production. This review summarizes the present state of methods studied for the recovery and purification of biologically produced diols, with particular emphasis on 1,3-propoanediol. Previous studies on the separation of 1,3-propanediol primarily include evaporation, distillation, membrane filtration, pervaporation, ion exchange chromatography, liquid–liquid extraction, and reactive extraction. Main methods for the recovery of 2,3-butanediol include steam stripping, pervaporation, and solvent extraction. No single method has proved to be simple and efficient, and improvements are especially needed with regard to yield, purity, and energy consumption. Perspectives for an improved downstream processing of biologically produced diols, especially 1,3-propanediol are discussed based on our own experience and recent work. It is argued that separation technologies such as aqueous two-phase extraction with short chain alcohols, pervaporation, reverse osmosis, and in situ extractive or pervaporative fermentations deserve more attention in the future.

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Acknowledgments

This work was partially supported by the Major State Basic Research Development Program of China (973 Program; No. 2007CB714306) and the Teaching and Research Award Program for Outstanding Young Teachers (to Z.-L. Xiu) in High Education Institutions of Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, School of Environmental and Biological Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, People’s Republic of China

    Zhi-Long Xiu

  2. Institute of Bioprocess and Biosystem Engineering, Hamburg University of Technology, Denickestr. 15, Hamburg, 21071, Germany

    An-Ping Zeng

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  1. Zhi-Long Xiu
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  2. An-Ping Zeng
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Correspondence to Zhi-Long Xiu or An-Ping Zeng.

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Xiu, ZL., Zeng, AP. Present state and perspective of downstream processing of biologically produced 1,3-propanediol and 2,3-butanediol. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 78, 917–926 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-008-1387-4

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