Abstract

JARAMILLO PINEDA, Oscar Johnny; GOMEZ GARCIA, Miguel Ángel  and  ALZATE, Javier Fontalvo. Removal of ethanolic fermentation inhibitors using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membranes by pervaporation. Rev. ion [online]. 2012, vol.25, n.1, pp.51-59. ISSN 0120-100X.

Pretreatment and fermentation are previous processes for ethanol production from lignocellulosic material. During pretreatment, several undesirable compounds are formed. These compounds, known as inhibitors, reduce yeast activity and they are one of the main limiting factors of ethanol yield in the fermentation process. Although, several biological, physical, and chemical processes have been proposed in the literature to remove inhibitor compounds, little attention has received membrane technology as a removal alternative. To date, there are not known studies where pervaporation has been used as a removal technology for inhibitors. In this work, a membrane of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was prepared and experimentally evaluated for removal of inhibitors usually produced from pretreatment and acid hydrolysis of bagasse and leaves of sugar cane. The prepared membrane is able to remove acetic acid, formic acid and furfural. Levulinic acid, xylose, glucose and hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) did not permeate through the membrane. These results show that it is possible to detoxicate hydroxylates from bagasse and leaves of sugar cane by pervaporation.

Keywords : pervaporation; hydrolysis of bagasse; inhibitors; process intensification; membrane technology.

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