Optimization of L-Malic Acid Separation and Purification Process from Fermentation Broth Based on Ion Exchange Method

DENG Xuecong; FU Shaoping; YANG Xuechen; DENG Honggang; XIA Jianye; ZHENG Yu; LIU Yanhua

doi:10.19554/j.cnki.1001-3563.2026.07.009

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Packaging Engineering ›› 2026, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (7) : 73-82. DOI: 10.19554/j.cnki.1001-3563.2026.07.009

Advanced Materials

Optimization of L-Malic Acid Separation and Purification Process from Fermentation Broth Based on Ion Exchange Method

DENG Xuecong^1a,2, FU Shaoping², YANG Xuechen², DENG Honggang², XIA Jianye^2,*, ZHENG Yu^1a, LIU Yanhua^1b,*

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Abstract

The work aims to develop an ion exchange-based purification process to improve product recovery and purity, so as to address the problems of low recovery and insufficient purity in the separation and purification of L-malic acid from fermentation broth. D380 ion exchange resin was selected through static adsorption and elution experiments, and the adsorption mechanism was analyzed with kinetic models and the Yoon-Nelson model. Key parameters including sample concentration, flow rate, column height-to-diameter ratio, eluent concentration, and flow rate were optimized by dynamic column chromatography. The optimal adsorption conditions were: sample concentration 40 g/L, sample volume 60 mL, height-to-diameter ratio 1∶5, and flow rate 2 BV/h. The optimal elution conditions were 0.4 mol/L ammonia water at a flow rate of 1 BV/h. After 6.3-fold scale-up, the separation resolution between L-malic acid, fumaric acid, and succinic acid was significantly improved, achieving a yield of 93.24%. Combined with subsequent desalination and crystallization steps, the final product exhibited a mass purity of 97.45% and chromatographic purity greater than 99.70%, with an overall process yield of 79.40%. The ion exchange purification process established in this study enables efficient separation of L-malic acid and holds promising potential for industrial application.

Key words

L-malic acid / ion exchange method / separation and purification / process amplification

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DENG Xuecong, FU Shaoping, YANG Xuechen, DENG Honggang, XIA Jianye, ZHENG Yu, LIU Yanhua. Optimization of L-Malic Acid Separation and Purification Process from Fermentation Broth Based on Ion Exchange Method[J]. Packaging Engineering. 2026, 47(7): 73-82 https://doi.org/10.19554/j.cnki.1001-3563.2026.07.009

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