The optimisation of reactive extraction of benzoic acid using trioctylphosphine oxide: performance comparison between the green solvent oleyl alcohol and the conventional solvent propyl acetate

Demir Ö., Dogan A., KIRBAŞLAR Ş. İ.

INDIAN CHEMICAL ENGINEER, 2025 (ESCI, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1080/00194506.2025.2576207
  • Dergi Adı: INDIAN CHEMICAL ENGINEER
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, Chemical Abstracts Core, Compendex
  • İstanbul Üniversitesi-Cerrahpaşa Adresli: Evet

Özet

Benzoic acid is an important carboxylic acid with various pharmaceutical applications, obtainable through microbial fermentation or from plants. This study investigates the use of trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) as a reactive extractant for separating benzoic acid from aqueous solutions, combined with either oleyl alcohol or propyl acetate as solvents. Using Response Surface Methodology, optimal extraction conditions were determined. The TOPO-oleyl alcohol system (a green solvent) achieved a distribution coefficient of 74.74 and 98% extraction efficiency, while the TOPO-propyl acetate system (a toxic solvent) reached a coefficient of 98.92 and 99% efficiency. These results demonstrate that high extraction yields of benzoic acid can be achieved using environmentally-friendly solvents as alternatives to toxic ones.