Comparative Experimental Investigation for the Separation of Tartaric Acid by Natural and Conventional Solvents

Authors

  • Aryawardhan.Y. Solanki Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Dharwad- 580011, Karnataka, India.
  • Ashwini Thakre Advanced Separation and Analytical Laboratory (ASAL), Department of Chemical Engineering, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur- 440010, India
  • Diwakar Shende Advanced Separation and Analytical Laboratory (ASAL), Department of Chemical Engineering, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur- 440010, India
  • Kailas Wasewar Advanced Separation and Analytical Laboratory (ASAL), Department of Chemical Engineering, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur- 440010, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33736/jaspe.10607.2026

Keywords:

Tartaric acid, Liquid–liquid extraction, Distribution coefficient, Extraction efficiency

Abstract

Tartaric acid (TA), a valuable organic acid with widespread applications in food, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries, is predominantly found in grapes and winery by-products. This study investigates the physical extraction of TA from aqueous solutions using both conventional solvents (oleyl alcohol, toluene) and natural, non-toxic solvents (rice bran oil, sesame oil). Extraction experiments were conducted at varying acid concentrations (0.04–0.198 mol/L) to determine key separation parameters including distribution coefficient (KD) and extraction efficiency (E%). Among the solvents tested, oleyl alcohol exhibited the highest extraction efficiency (21.72%) and distribution coefficient (0.181), attributed to its amphiphilic nature and low viscosity, which enhance mass transfer and solute interaction. In contrast, sesame oil showed the lowest performance due to its high viscosity and poor polarity. While extraction efficiencies were lower compared to reactive extraction methods, the use of bio-based solvents presents an environmentally sustainable alternative. These results demonstrate the possibility of enhancing acid recovery procedures by using green solvent systems.

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Published

2026-04-30

How to Cite

Solanki, A. ., Thakre, A. ., Shende, D., & Wasewar, K. (2026). Comparative Experimental Investigation for the Separation of Tartaric Acid by Natural and Conventional Solvents. Journal of Applied Science &Amp; Process Engineering, 13(1), 28–38. https://doi.org/10.33736/jaspe.10607.2026

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 1 (2026): Journal of Applied Science & Process Engineering, Volume 13, Number 1, 2026

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Articles

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