(395x) Use of a Three-Zone Simulated Moving Bed Process Based On the Amberchrom-CG161C Adsorbent for Continuous Removal of Acetic Acid From Biomass Hydrolyzate

In the production process of bio-ethanol from biomass, acetic acid is recognized as the key impurity to be removed from the sugar components that are generated by hydrolyzing biomass. To address this issue, the three-zone simulated moving bed (SMB) process based on the Amberchrom CG161C adsorbent was applied to remove acetic acid from the sugar components. First, the intrinsic parameters of all the relevant components were estimated through a series of single column experiments. Based on the estimated parameters, the optimal operating conditions of the three-zone SMB of interest were determined. To validate the optimized three-zone SMB process, the experimental unit of the SMB process was assembled and the relevant three-zone SMB experiment was conducted. The assay of all the resultant product samples verified that the SMB separation of interest was performed successfully as designed. The experimental data were also found to agree closely with the model predictions. Finally, a partial-discard strategy was applied to maintain the sugar concentration as high as possible.