Antibiotic production consists of fermentation followed by filtration of the biomass. The antibiotic, which is in the filtrate, is extracted using a solvent; which is stripped in a distillation column. The original broth contains 15 wt.% of biomass, 25 wt.% of penicillin and rest mother liquor. The solids retain 5 wt.% of the solution in the filter. Two parts of solvent by weight is added for every part of the antibiotic in the mixer extractor. Solvent extraction process is only 97 wt.% efficient (i.e., 3 wt.% of the antibiotic is left behind in the mother liquor). The solvent carries 1 wt.% of the penicillin away during stripping operation. What is the efficiency of this downstream process with respect to penicillin recovery?

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