Method of preparing alkyl butyrate from fermented liquid using microorganisms

Abstract

Disclosed is a method of preparing alkyl butyrate, which comprises: (a) producing a fermented liquid containing butyrate salt through a fermentation process using butyric acid-producing strains; (b) obtaining an extracted liquid containing butyric acid from a continuous extracting apparatus using an extraction solvent, after converting the butyrate salt into butyric acid by adding an inorganic acid except for carbonic acid or carbon dioxide into the fermented liquid, wherein the continuous extracting apparatus includes a plurality of extraction plates which are installed inside an extraction column and perform a reciprocating motion vertically, and the broth and the extraction solvent are supplied to upper and lower portions of the column, respectively; and (c) reacting the extracted liquid and alcohol having a carbon number of 4 or less or a mixture thereof in an esterification reactor to convert a resultant product into alkyl butyrate. According to the present invention, butyric acid existing in microbic culture fluid can be efficiently extracted, and furthermore, competitively priced alkyl butyrate can be prepared without an additional process of separating the extracted solvent while minimizing energy consumption.