Journal Article

FZJ-2026-00735

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Terpenoids as solvents for the separation of 2,3-butanediol from water: Phase equilibria and process evaluation

von Westarp, W. G. ; Hense, J. ; Haas, M. ; Jupke, A. (Corresponding author)FZJ*

2026
Science Direct New York, NY [u.a.]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1016/j.fluid.2025.114572  doi:10.34734/FZJ-2026-00735

Abstract: 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BDO) is a versatile platform chemical that can be produced via fermentation in aqueous solution. The energy intensive recovery of the high boiling 2,3-BDO from water via distillation hinders the economic viability of biotechnological produced 2,3-BDO. Hence, extraction-distillation processes using novel solvents from the class of terpenoids, namely menthol, thymol, and carvacrol, are proposed. To this end, binary and ternary liquid-liquid equilibrium (LLE) data for H2O, 2,3-BDO, and each terpenoid, as well as boiling point data for 2,3-BDO and the respective terpenoid, are measured. The thermodynamic phase equilibria are correlated with the non-random two liquid (NRTL) model and consecutive process design of the extraction-distillation processes is conducted using Aspen Plus. Conventional solvents (isobutanol, 1-butanol, and oleylalcohol), thymol, and carvacrol are assessed in terms of specific exergy demand for the production of 2,3-BDO. The lowest specific exergy demands were found for oleyl alcohol (5.38 kJ g−1) and thymol (5.14 kJ g−1), carvacrol (5.49 kJ g−1). Hence, terpenoids are a competitive class of solvents and should be included in solvent screening approaches.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Pflanzenwissenschaften (IBG-2)

Research Program(s):

1. 2172 - Utilization of renewable carbon and energy sources and engineering of ecosystem functions (POF4-217) (POF4-217)
2. PFExC006 - EXC2186 "The Fuel Science Center" (EXS-PF-PFExC006) (EXS-PF-PFExC006)
3. BioSC - Bioeconomy Science Center (BioSC) (BioSC)

Appears in the scientific report 2026

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Database coverage:
; ; ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Engineering, Computing and Technology ; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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