Recovery of Fumaric Acid by Membrane Crystallization in the Production of L-Malic Acid

A study on redesigning traditional crystallizers by using microporous hydrophobic membranes and, in particular, the
realization of a separation unit aiming to recover the unreacted fumaric acid leaving a biocatalytic membrane reactor
for the production of L-malic acid is presented. The development of two main conceptual aspects of this operation are
analysed: one concerning the transport of matter and energy through membrane, other the physical and chemical
phenomena that occur during crystallization. From experimentally determined particle size distributions and induction
time measurements, the parameters of a set of equations describing both heterogeneous and secondary nucleation
processes, as well as growth rate, have been evaluated. Finally, population balance equation has been applied in order
to predict the evolution of CDS in time.