Utilization of Electrodeionization to Separate and Concentrate Cellobionic and Lactobionic Acid

Over the next few decades, it will be of utmost importance to find renewable and clean energy sources. According to a recent report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the average global temperature now has about a 50% chance of temporarily rising above 1.5 degrees Celsius beyond pre-industrial levels in the next 5 years. Biofuels show promising results alleviating this issue, reaching similar efficiencies to fossil fuels and having the ability to be restored upon being used. Since plants absorb carbon dioxide in the air through photosynthesis, they are also considered to be carbon neutral when used as a fuel source. Through cellulosic ethanol production, large, organic sugar acids are broken down and separated, which is a difficult, time-consuming, and costly process. This project aims to explore the separation and manipulation of 2 large sugar acids, cellobionate and lactobionate, through electrodeionization (EDI). An applied external electric force drives the separation of positively and negatively charged ions, yielding desired concentrations and properties of cellobionic and lactobionic acid. Different combinations of applied voltage, rinse solutions, ion exchange membranes, structural designs, and initial concentrations were tested to optimize the final concentration of desired products. After laboratory analysis of samples collected during a trial, it was confirmed that the EDI device acidified cellobionate and increased the concentration of cellobionic acid. The device ran for 15 hours, and the results showed that the concentration of cellobionic acid increased from 0 to 1.4 mg/L and the pH of the concentrate stream decreased from 7 to 2.5, confirming cellobionic acid was produced.