Parameters and mechanism of membrane-oriented processes for the facilitated extraction and recovery of norfloxacin active compound

Kinetic control aspects and mechanisms in oriented membrane processes for extraction and recovery of ascorbic acid compound

Ascorbic acid comprises four enantiomers, with only one of them, L-ascorbic acid, recognized as vitamin C. The modern industries place significant importance on obtaining this compound in its purest form. The challenge is to recover L-ascorbic acid, which requires specific processes within these industries. To satisfy this condition, purification is needed, a process that requires large quantities of solvents and high energy consumption. To overcome these limitations, we conducted a study on the facilitated extraction of L-ascorbic acid using three affinity polymer membranes, including supported liquid membrane (SLM), polymer inclusion membrane (PIM), and grafted polymer membranes (GPM) with cholic acid as the extractive agent. Following the characterization of the membranes using IR spectroscopy and SEM techniques, we investigated various parameters associated with substrate diffusion through the organic membrane phase. Regarding the biologically active L-ascorbic acid, our research findings indicated that kinetic factors drove the mechanisms of the studied processes.

Kinetic control concept for the diffusion processes of paracetamol active molecules across affinity polymer membranes from acidic solutions

Background

Paracetamol compound remains the most used pharmaceutical as an analgesic and antipyretic for pain and fever, often identified in aquatic environments. The elimination of this compound from wastewater is one of the critical operations carried out by advanced industries. Our work objective was to assess studies based on membrane processes by using two membranes, polymer inclusion membrane and grafted polymer membrane containing gluconic acid as an extractive agent for extracting and recovering paracetamol compound from aqueous solutions.

Result

The elaborated membrane characterizations were assessed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Kinetic and thermodynamic models have been applied to determine the values of macroscopic (P and J₀), microscopic (D* and K_ass), activation and thermodynamic parameters (E_a, ΔH^#, ΔS^#, ΔH^#_diss, and ΔH^#_th). All results showed that the PVA–GA was more performant than its counterpart GPM–GA, with apparent diffusion coefficient values (10⁷D*) of 41.807 and 31.211 cm² s⁻¹ respectively, at T = 308 K. In addition, the extraction process for these membranes was more efficient at pH = 1. The relatively low values of activation energy (Ea), activation association enthalpy (ΔH^≠_ass), and activation dissociation enthalpy (ΔH^≠_diss) have indicated a kinetic control for the oriented processes studied across the adopted membranes much more than the energetic counterpart.

Conclusion

The results presented for the quantification of oriented membrane process ensured clean, sustainable, and environmentally friendly methods for the extraction and recovery of paracetamol molecule as a high-value substance.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13065-021-00794-7.