Dr Eng. Beata Rukowicz from the Department of Process Engineering of the Institute of Chemical Technology and Engineering, the Poznań University of Technology will implement the project “Electrodionization as a method of separating succinic acid from aqueous solutions”. She won a grant for research in the Miniature competition of the National Science Center.

The aim of the project is to analyze and select the parameters of the electrodeionization process as a technique for the separation and purification of succinic acid obtained by the biotechnological method. Electrodeionization is a combination of ion-exchange and membrane separation techniques, which is currently used in the production of high-purity water.

Succinic acid, an organic carboxylic acid, is widely used in the chemical, food and pharmaceutical industries. Its biotechnological production from renewable raw materials is becoming more and more popular compared to chemical synthesis requiring the use of high temperatures and pressures.