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Adsorption and Reactive Desorption on Metal–Organic Frameworks: A Direct Strategy for Lactic Acid Recovery
Author(s) -
Stassin Timothée,
Reinsch Helge,
Van de Voorde Ben,
Wuttke Stefan,
Medina Dana D.,
Stock Norbert,
Bein Thomas,
Ameloot Rob,
De Vos Dirk
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201601000
Subject(s) - adsorption , metal organic framework , desorption , zirconium , chemistry , catalysis , terephthalic acid , chemical engineering , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , polyester , engineering
Abstract Biomass‐derived lactic acid (LA) is an important platform chemical towards the sustainable production of numerous materials. However, the fermentation process currently in use is limited by the difficult recovery of the LA product from the fermentation broth and results in the generation of stoichiometric amounts of gypsum waste. Herein, we show that metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) of the UiO‐66(Zr) type are effective adsorbents for the separation of LA from aqueous (buffer) solutions. These frameworks based on zirconium clusters and terephthalic acid derivatives display a tremendous uptake (up to 42 wt %) and a high affinity for LA. The latter can further be tuned by changing the hydrogen‐bonding properties of the functional groups present on the organic ligand. A Rietveld refinement disclosed the specific interaction of LA with the clusters of UiO‐66(Zr) and a preferential adsorption on open zirconium sites. Taking advantage of the catalytic activity of UiO‐66(Zr), desorption of LA was performed in alcohols to recover up to 73 % as ester. Applied to the recovery of LA, adsorption and reactive desorption offer a direct and gypsum‐free strategy as an alternative for the current multi‐step process.