Separation of poly- and disaccharides by biphasic systems based on ionic liquids

Purification of polysaccharides from Phellinus linteus by using an aqueous two-phase system and evaluation of the physicochemical and antioxidant properties of polysaccharides in vitro

In this study, Phellinus linteus polysaccharides (PLPS) and proteins were simultaneously separated from P. linteus mycelia by using an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) based on choline chloride ([Chol]Cl)/K₂HPO₄, and the physicochemical and antioxidant properties of PLPS after ATPS extraction were evaluated. Results demonstrated that the maximal extraction efficiencies of 68.53% ± 0.29% PLPS and 82.37% ± 0.41% proteins were obtained when the cholinium-based ATPS contained 68.9% K₂HPO₄, 20% [Chol]Cl, 10.0 mg mL^-1 crude water extract (1.0 mL), and distilled water (4.0 mL) at shaking time and temperature of 30 min and 21.2 °C, respectively. Compared with C-PLPS obtained using traditional ethanol precipitation and isolation protocols, PLPS had higher carbohydrate content (63.58% ± 1.12%), lower molecular weight (15.2 kDa, 80%), different monosaccharide compositions, and showed similar preliminary structural characterizations. Moreover, PLPS exhibited more evident scavenging effects on free radicals and in vitro antioxidant activities than C-PLPS. Therefore, the method of [Chol]Cl/K₂HPO₄ ATPS can be developed as an effective strategy for the separation/purification of highly bioactive polysaccharides.

Ionic liquid-assisted biphasic systems for downstream processing of fermentative enzymes and organic acids

Room-temperature ionic liquids (ILs) represent molten salts entirely consisting of ions, usually a charge-stabilized organic cation and an inorganic or organic anion. ILs are liquids at ambient temperature but possess characteristics unusual for the common liquid solvents, such as negligible vapor pressure, high thermal stability and most over the ability to mix and match libraries of cations and anions in order to acquire desirable physical and chemical properties [1]. The opportunity to obtain tunable density, viscosity, polarity and miscibility with common molecular liquids gave rise to a variety of applications of the ILs [2] as environmentally benign solvents, extractants or auxiliaries. In particular, numbers of innovations in the methods for recovery and purification of biologically derived compounds involve ILs used solo or partnered with other liquids in biphasic systems [3,4,5]. It should be noted that the ILs are not intrinsically greener than the traditional solvents, given that their production is usually more resource-demanding, but the inherent potential for recycling and reuse, and for prevention of chemical accidents gives the ILs advantages ahead.

The present chapter provides a state-of-the-art overview on the basic applications of the ILs in biphasic systems aimed at downstream processing of valuable fermentative products, enzymes and organic acids. Main industrially important enzymes, lipases and carbohydrases, are considered and a description of the IL-assisted aqueous biphasic systems (ABS) and the results obtained in view of enzyme yield and purity is made. ILs serve different functions in the ABS, main phase-segregating constituents (mostly in the IL/salt ABS) or adjuvants to the polymer/salt ABS. Enzyme isolation from the contaminant proteins present in the feedstock can be carried out either in the IL-rich or in the salt-rich phase of the ABS and for the reader’s convenience the two options are described separately. Discussion on the factors and parameters affecting the enzyme partitioning in the ABS with ILs guides the reader through the ways by which the interactions between the IL and the enzyme can be manipulated in favor of the enzyme purification through the choice of the ABS composition (IL, salt, pH) and the role of the water content and the IL-rich phase structure.

The second part of the chapter is dedicated to the recovery of fermentative organic acids. Mostly hydrophobic ILs have been engaged in the studies and the biphasic systems thereof are summarized. The systems are evaluated by the extraction efficiency and partition coefficient obtained. Factors and parameters affecting the extraction of organic acids by ILs are highlighted in a way to unravel the extraction mechanism. The choice of IL and pH determines the reactive mechanism and the ion exchange, while the water content and the IL phase structure play roles in physical extraction. Procedures undertaken to enhance the efficiency and to intensify the process of extraction are also looked over.

Finally, the experimental holes that need fill up in the future studies are marked. According to the author’s opinion an intense research with hydrophobic ILs is suggested as these ILs have been proved milder to the biological structures (both the microbial producer and the enzyme product), more effective in the organic acid recovery and suitable to perform “in situ” extraction. Extractive fermentation entails validation of ecological and toxicological characteristics of the ILs. The protocols for re-extraction of fermentative products separated by IL-assisted biphasic systems should be clearly settled along with the methods for ILs recycling and reuse. Novel more flexible approaches to process intensification can be implemented in order to adopt the separation by biphasic systems for use in industry.

COSMO-RS-Based Screening of Antisolvents for the Separation of Sugars from Ionic Liquids: Experimental and Molecular Dynamic Simulations

The use of ionic liquids (ILs) in the biorefinery process has been increasing for the past few decades. In biorefinery, the separation process with respect to sugars needs to be evaluated for an efficient process design. Therefore, the present work aims to investigate the separation of sugars and ILs by means of a precipitation process using an antisolvent method. For this purpose, both theoretical and experimental studies were conducted. Initially, the conductor-like screening model for real solvents model was employed to screen the suitable antisolvents for the separation of sugars from the ILs. From the screening study, dichloromethane (DCM) and 1,2-dichloroethane were found to be the better antisolvents for the separation process. With the selected antisolvents, precipitation experiments were conducted for the mixtures involving four different sugars and three ILs at different experimental conditions. The process variables such as different antisolvents, sugars, ILs, antisolvent-IL molar ratios, and temperatures were examined in terms of their effect on sugar removal and IL recovery. DCM was found to be the most suitable antisolvent in this study with 90-99% of sugar removal and 80-98% of IL recovery. Further, molecular dynamics simulations were adopted to understand the structural properties of carbohydrates with ILs and antisolvents via interaction energies, hydrogen bonding, and coordination numbers. It was observed that the interaction energy between the sugars and IL plays a critical role in the removal of sugar. Higher the interaction energy between the sugars and IL, lower is the sugar removal.