ABSTRACT
Reactive extraction of propionic acid was studied using Aliquat 336 in different diluents (2-octanol and oleyl alcohol). Effects of temperature and water co-extraction on extraction of propionic acid were determined. Study of these parameters is important to design an efficient recovery process for propionic acid recovery. The knowledge of effect of temperature is essential for designing the extraction and back-extraction step. Extraction was found to increase with increasing temperature upto 40 oC whereupon it decreases. This suggested that extraction should be performed at temperature around 40 oC, and back extraction at temperature > 60 oC. Water co-extraction was found to be highest at low Aliquat concentrations. With increase in acid concentration an increase in co-extracted water was found.