Optimization of ferulic acid recovery from mixed culture fermentation broth using task specific ionic liquids /
Nurul Aliaa Binti Abdul Rahman,
Optimization of ferulic acid recovery from mixed culture fermentation broth using task specific ionic liquids / Nurul Aliaa Binti Abdul Rahman - xvi, 163 pages : illustration ; 30 cm.+ 1 CD-ROM
Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology
Thesis (Doctor of Philosophy) -- Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al Sultan Abdullah - 2025
Include bibliographical reference
Ferulic acid (FA) has garnered significant attention in various industries due to its antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-thrombosis properties. Despite its valuable applications in the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical sectors, the efficient recovery of FA from fermentation broth remains challenging. This difficulty arises due to the presence of complex fermentation media, which includes proteins, sugars, and other organic compounds that hinder the selective separation of FA, resulting in low purity and extensive downstream processing. Moreover, conventional solvent extraction methods often involve the use of volatile organic solvents, posing environmental and safety concerns. Therefore, optimizing FA recovery from mixed culture fermentation broth is essential. To address these challenges, greener alternatives such as ionic liquids (ILs) have gained attention due to their tuneable properties, negligible vapor pressure, and enhanced selectivity for bioactive compounds. In particular, ILs function as designer solvents in liquid–liquid extraction systems, where their unique cation–anion combinations facilitate targeted interactions with specific solutes. In the case of FA, ILs enhance extraction efficiency primarily through hydrogen bonding interactions between the IL anions and the hydroxyl and carboxyl groups of FA, thereby increasing solubility and selectivity during phase separation. In this study, ILs were employed as alternative solvents in liquid–liquid extraction to improve FA recovery from fermentation broth. However, there is limited research on identifying the most effective ILs for FA recovery from fermentation broth. This study aimed to optimize FA recovery using task-specific ionic liquids (TSILs). The initial step involved screening potential ILs for FA recovery using the Conductor-like Screening Model for Real Solvents (COSMO-RS) software. The findings revealed that FA's hydrogen bond acceptor properties play a crucial role in enhancing recovery efficiency, with smaller alkyl chains and specific anion pairings such as [BF4] and [F] improving FA selectivity, capacity, and performance index. The two ILs with the highest performance index namely morpholinium tetrafluoroborate ([MOR][BF4]) and imidazolium hydrogen sulfate ([IM][HSO4]) were selected for further study, synthesized, and validated through Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy analyses. Among them, [IM][HSO₄] exhibited higher antimicrobial activity and enzyme inhibition, whereas [MOR][BF₄] demonstrated lower toxicity, making it a more suitable solvent for biocompatible recovery. Optimization of FA recovery using [MOR][BF4] via Central Composite Design (CCD) achieved a 92.55% FA recovery rate under optimal conditions: a phase ratio of 1:5, recovery time of 45 minutes, inorganic salt concentration of 0.06M, at 45°C and pH 9.5. This optimization resulted in a 2.3% increase in FA recovery efficiency and a 15 minute reduction in recovery time compared to initial screening results. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that [MOR][BF₄] serves as a sustainable, low-toxicity, and highly efficient IL solvent for liquid–liquid extraction of FA from complex fermentation media. The results provide a valuable foundation for scalable FA recovery processes in industrial bioprocessing applications, promoting both environmental and economic benefits.
THE0010338 (Local)
Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology--Dissertations
Universities and colleges--Dissertations
Theses--Dissertations
Optimization of ferulic acid recovery from mixed culture fermentation broth using task specific ionic liquids / Nurul Aliaa Binti Abdul Rahman - xvi, 163 pages : illustration ; 30 cm.+ 1 CD-ROM
Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology
Thesis (Doctor of Philosophy) -- Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al Sultan Abdullah - 2025
Include bibliographical reference
Ferulic acid (FA) has garnered significant attention in various industries due to its antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-thrombosis properties. Despite its valuable applications in the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical sectors, the efficient recovery of FA from fermentation broth remains challenging. This difficulty arises due to the presence of complex fermentation media, which includes proteins, sugars, and other organic compounds that hinder the selective separation of FA, resulting in low purity and extensive downstream processing. Moreover, conventional solvent extraction methods often involve the use of volatile organic solvents, posing environmental and safety concerns. Therefore, optimizing FA recovery from mixed culture fermentation broth is essential. To address these challenges, greener alternatives such as ionic liquids (ILs) have gained attention due to their tuneable properties, negligible vapor pressure, and enhanced selectivity for bioactive compounds. In particular, ILs function as designer solvents in liquid–liquid extraction systems, where their unique cation–anion combinations facilitate targeted interactions with specific solutes. In the case of FA, ILs enhance extraction efficiency primarily through hydrogen bonding interactions between the IL anions and the hydroxyl and carboxyl groups of FA, thereby increasing solubility and selectivity during phase separation. In this study, ILs were employed as alternative solvents in liquid–liquid extraction to improve FA recovery from fermentation broth. However, there is limited research on identifying the most effective ILs for FA recovery from fermentation broth. This study aimed to optimize FA recovery using task-specific ionic liquids (TSILs). The initial step involved screening potential ILs for FA recovery using the Conductor-like Screening Model for Real Solvents (COSMO-RS) software. The findings revealed that FA's hydrogen bond acceptor properties play a crucial role in enhancing recovery efficiency, with smaller alkyl chains and specific anion pairings such as [BF4] and [F] improving FA selectivity, capacity, and performance index. The two ILs with the highest performance index namely morpholinium tetrafluoroborate ([MOR][BF4]) and imidazolium hydrogen sulfate ([IM][HSO4]) were selected for further study, synthesized, and validated through Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy analyses. Among them, [IM][HSO₄] exhibited higher antimicrobial activity and enzyme inhibition, whereas [MOR][BF₄] demonstrated lower toxicity, making it a more suitable solvent for biocompatible recovery. Optimization of FA recovery using [MOR][BF4] via Central Composite Design (CCD) achieved a 92.55% FA recovery rate under optimal conditions: a phase ratio of 1:5, recovery time of 45 minutes, inorganic salt concentration of 0.06M, at 45°C and pH 9.5. This optimization resulted in a 2.3% increase in FA recovery efficiency and a 15 minute reduction in recovery time compared to initial screening results. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that [MOR][BF₄] serves as a sustainable, low-toxicity, and highly efficient IL solvent for liquid–liquid extraction of FA from complex fermentation media. The results provide a valuable foundation for scalable FA recovery processes in industrial bioprocessing applications, promoting both environmental and economic benefits.
THE0010338 (Local)
Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology--Dissertations
Universities and colleges--Dissertations
Theses--Dissertations