Abstract
We have developed a lipase-facilitated organogel membrane for selective separation of organic acids. We previously demonstrated that lipase-catalyzed reactions drove transport of organic acids through a supported liquid membrane. In this study, a lipase-facilitated liquid membrane was gelled with 12-hydroxystearic acid to stabilize the liquid membrane phase. The lipase-facilitated organogel membrane exhibited the improved stability of the liquid membrane phase compared with a non-gelled supported liquid membrane, although the permeate flux of an organic acid through the organogel membrane was less than that through the non-gelled liquid membrane. The lipase-facilitated organogel membrane demonstrated the selective separation of 3-phenoxypropionic acid from various organic acids due to the substrate specificity of lipases. Enantioselective separation of (S) -ibuprofen from racemic ibuprofen was also achieved owing to the enantioselectivity of lipase.
