Effects of Main Constituents of W/O Emulsion on Removal of Acetic Acid in a Simulated Hemicellulosic Hydrolysate

− Acetic acid is the most abundant and serious ethanol fermentation inhibitor in dilute-acid hemicellulosic hydrolysates. A mixture of xylose, acetic acid and sulfuric acid was chosen as a simulated hemicellulosic hydrolysate so as to find an optimal separation system to selectively remove acetic acid from the hydrolysates. In order to attain the purpose, emulsion liquid membrane was applied to removal of acetic acid from the simulated hemicellulosic hydrolysate. The effects of main constituents of water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion, such as amine extractant type, surfactant composition, additive type, and type and concentration of stripping agent, on extraction of acetic acid, xylose, and sulfuric acid in the simulated hemicellulosic hydrolysate were investigated. Under specific experimental conditions, degree of extraction of acetic acid was higher than 95% while loss of xylose was insignificant, which means that the current emulsion liquid membrane can be an economically feasible process.