Natamycin recovery

摘要

A process for the recovery of high purity natamycin from fermentaion broth by extraction with methanol is disclosed. In one embodiment the process comprises the steps: (1) adding methanol to a natamycin feed stream comprising at least 2 g/L of solid suspended natamycin to form an extraction medium, and maintaining the extraction medium at a temperature of 0 DEG -25 DEG C., preferably not over 15 DEG C.; (2) adjusting the pH of the extraction medium to 1.0 to 4.5 while maintaining the temperature at 0 DEG -25 DEG C. for 0.5 to 30 hours, but preferably not over 0.5 hours when the temperature is 15 DEG -25 DEG C.; (3) removing solids from the extraction medium to form an extraction liquor; (4) raising the pH of the extraction liquor to 6.0-9.0; and (5) recovering precipitated natamycin.