Racemic ofloxacin separation by supported-liquid membrane extraction with two organic phases

Based on chemical thermodynamic theory, racemic ofloxacin is separated in chiral sys-tems by hollow fiber liquid-supported membrane technology combining with countercurrently frac-tional extraction. The two chiral solutions containing L-dibenzoyltartaric acid and D-dibenzoylta- rtaric acid in 1-octanol, flow through the lumen side and the shell side of fibers, respectively. The solution which flows through the lumen side of fibers also contains racemic ofloxacin. The wall of hollow fibers is filled with an aqueous of 0.1 mol/L Na2HPO4/H3PO4 buffer solution of pH = 6.86 containing 2 mmol/L of cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide for 48 h. The fairly polar ofloxacin can cross the membrane back and forth, but dibenzoyltartaric acids cannot cross it. Fractional chiral extraction theory, mass transfer performance of hollow fiber membrane and enantioselectivity are investigated. Mathematical model of R/S = 0.96e0.03NTU for racemic ofloxacin separation by hollow fiber extraction, is established. The optical purity for ofloxacin enantiomers is up to 90% when 11 hollow fiber membrane modules of 22 cm in length in series are used.