Chiral separation of amino-alcohols using extractant impregnated resins.

The performance of extractant impregnated resin (EIR) technology for chiral separation of amino-alcohols has been investigated. Phenylglycinol was selected as an archetype model enantiomer and azophenolic crown ether was used as a versatile enantioselective extractant. 1-Phenyloctane was selected as a suitable solvent for this application because of its very low solubility in water. The extraction system was first evaluated by liquid-liquid equilibrium experiments. It was shown that crown ether dissolved in 1-phenyloctane has an intrinsic selectivity of 11.5. However, due to very low solubility of phenylglycinol in 1-phenyloctane, the overall capacity of the crown ether solution in 1-phenyloctane is limited. The extractant solution was immobilized in macroporous polypropylene particles. Competitive sorption isotherms were obtained from batch experiments and successfully described with a predictive model based on the complexation constants and partitioning ratios, either obtained from literature or from independent experiments. The equilibrium selectivity of these EIRs approaches the intrinsic selectivity for low phenylglycinol concentrations. The dynamic behaviour and stability of the system were examined in column experiments. Breakthrough profiles as well as the elution curves of the R enantiomer are less sharp than those of the S enantiomer proving that the R enantiomer is strongly retained on the column. Separation of phenylglycinol enantiomers is favoured by using lower feed flow rates. The column was regenerated by water with only atmospheric carbon dioxide dissolved which proved to be sufficient. After several cycles the breakthrough profiles remain unchanged suggesting that these EIRs will be sufficiently stable.