Performance analysis of aromatic adsorptive resins for the effective removal of furan derivatives from glucose

Abstract

BACKGROUND Many countries have set goals to replace conventional energy sources with renewable energy sources. This has led to investigations into the use of lignocellulosic biomass as a feedstock for renewable fuels and base chemicals. Unfortunately hydrolysation of this biomass introduces impurities that are toxic to the fermentation bacteria. This study aims to find the key adsorber properties for the separation of toxic 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) from glucose. RESULTS Batch adsorption experiments on styrene based (anion exchange) adsorbers showed that a high surface area is a key property for effective HMF adsorption. Introduction of polar groups in the form of anion exchange groups appears to increase the HMF‐affinity of the resin material, unfortunately these groups also introduce affinity for glucose. Competitive adsorption studies of HMF and glucose showed that glucose does not affect HMF adsorption in any of the resins. CONCLUSION Furan derivatives can be removed from water and sugar solutions with styrene based (anion exchange) polymeric resins. For efficient removal, a high surface area of the resin is a key property. Dowex Optipore L‐493 shows the best specific HMF adsorption and no specificity for glucose, which makes it an excellent adsorber for HMF removal from hydrolysate for the fermentation of glucose. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry

Adsorption kinetics of DowexTM OptiporeTM L493 for the removal of the furan 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural from sugar

“…The following is assumed: There is no concentration gradient over the bed. This is achieved by using a zero length column in which the bed is very short (∼2 mm). The adsorbent is spherical with uniformly distributed pores. Equilibrium is described by the Freundlich equation as was determined earlier The diffusion is described by Fick's law.…”

“…The adsorption equilibrium between solute and adsorbent is described by the Freundlich: …”

“…furans from glucose product streams. In earlier work, styrene based resins have been identified as promising adsorbents for the separation of furans from sugars . Adsorption of furans is established by π − π stacking of the furan ring with the styrene group of the resin.…”

“…Adsorption of furans is established by π − π stacking of the furan ring with the styrene group of the resin. In previous work we investigated several styrene based resins, with and without anion exchange groups, for the removal of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural from glucose . Dowex TM Optipore TM L493 (Optipore) was identified as the most promising adsorption resin for HMF adsorption over a broad HMF concentration range, based on equilibrium adsorption isotherms .…”

“…All experiments are conducted with HMF in water and HMF in aqueous glucose (100 g L −1 ). Since previous research showed that the presence of glucose does not affect HMF adsorption, it is expected that glucose will influence the HMF adsorption kinetics only by increasing the viscosity of the solution.…”