A Review of Biorefinery Separations for Bioproduct Production via Thermocatalytic Processing

Abstract

With technological advancement of thermocatalytic processes for valorizing renewable biomass carbon, development of effective separation technologies for selective recovery of bioproducts from complex reaction media and their purification becomes essential. The high thermal sensitivity of biomass intermediates and their low volatility and high reactivity, along with the use of dilute solutions, make the bioproducts separations energy intensive and expensive. Novel separation techniques, including solvent extraction in biphasic systems and reactive adsorption using zeolite and carbon sorbents, membranes, and chromatography, have been developed. In parallel with experimental efforts, multiscale simulations have been reported for predicting solvent selection and adsorption separation. We discuss various separations that are potentially valuable to future biorefineries and the factors controlling separation performance. Particular emphasis is given to current gaps and opportunities for future development.

Process Intensification for Cellulosic Biorefineries

“…For example,H MF partitioning into methylisobutylketone (MIBK) was enhanced in the presence of 30 wt %N aCl in water in aM IBK/ water biphasic system (partition coefficient = 1.2). [32] Notably, our experiment using pure HMF showed very low partitionc oefficient for HMF (0.5) in MIBK/MSH (1:3 v/v). Similarly,t he COSMO-SAC model predicted ah ighp artition coefficient for HMF (33.8) in m-cresol/water,afinding which was experimentally validated.…”

“…Similarly,t he COSMO-SAC model predicted ah ighp artition coefficient for HMF (33.8) in m-cresol/water,afinding which was experimentally validated. [32] However,i nt he m-cresol/MSH system, HMF forms ac ondensation product with m-cresol, whichisi na greement with ap revious report. [33] This resultsi ne rroneous partition coefficientv alues for HMF.C ontrol experimentsr evealed the formation of as imilar condensation product between HMF and MIBK in MSH, resulting in about four-fold mass loss of added HMF.F uranic solvents [tetrahydrofuran( THF) and 2methyl tetrahydrofuran( 2-MeTHF)],w hich form separate phases with pure water or NaCl-saturated water,a re miscible with MSH.…”

“…Usually,i norganic salts in the aqueous phase improve partitioning of furfurals into the organic phase due to the salting-out effect. [3,32] Interestingly,M SH behaves negatively with most organic solvents in partitioning HMF and furfural. For example,H MF partitioning into methylisobutylketone (MIBK) was enhanced in the presence of 30 wt %N aCl in water in aM IBK/ water biphasic system (partition coefficient = 1.2).…”

Combining steam distillation with microwave-assisted pyrolysis to maximise direct production of levoglucosenone from agricultural wastes

“…Product separation is often considered to be the most troublesome aspect of biorefineries. 34 The production of levoglucosan under superheated steam has been recently reported…”

Synthesis of absorbent polymer films made from fatty acid methyl esters, glycerol, and glutaric acid: Thermal, mechanical, and porosity analyses

“…Alarmingly, the rate at which GHG continue to be produced will result in the earth's surface temperature exceeding historical values as early as 2047 . Among the solutions to mitigate climate change and reduce the consumption of fossil fuels is to develop and construct biorefineries that can produce energy, fuels, and chemicals from biomass . Many consumer products are created from molecules derived from the petroleum industry.…”