Advanced adsorption processes for separation of bio-derived products
Disclosed herein are methods for the recovery of target bio-base carboxylic acid products using a sorption-based technology with a mixed elution solvent optimized for minimized downstream distillation energy input. The sorption-based technology includes absorbing the targeted bio-base carboxylic acid products onto a non-ionic resin and eluting the targeted bio-base carboxylic acid products with a mixed elution solvent. The mixed elution solvent includes a first solvent and a second solvent. The first solvent has a boiling point that is lower than the targeted bio-base carboxylic acid products and the second solvent is selected from the group consisting of a phosphine oxide or tertiary amine.
1. A method for separating a bio-based carboxylic acid product from an aqueous solution comprising the step of selecting a first solvent and a second solvent wherein the first solvent has a boiling point that is lower than the bio-based carboxylic acid product and wherein the second solvent is selected from the group consisting of a phosphine oxide or tertiary amine and is miscible with the first solvent and has a boiling point above the bio-based carboxylic acid product; and further comprising the adsorption of the bio-based carboxylic acid product onto a non-ionic resin.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the carboxylic acid is lactic acid or butyric acid.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first solvent is selected from the group consisting of acetone and methanol.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the non-ionic resin is selected from the group consisting of Amberlite™, Dowex®, or Polybenzimidazole (PBI).
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the non-ionic resin is poly(4-vinylpyridine).
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises desorbing the bio-based carboxylic acid product from the resin using a mixture of the first solvent and the second solvent.
7. The method of claim 6 further comprising distilling the first and second solvent from a mixture of the desorbed bio-based carboxylic acid product and the first and second solvent.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the bio-based product is isolated.
9. A method for separating a carboxylic acid fermentation product from an aqueous solution comprising adsorption of the carboxylic acid fermentation product onto a non-ionic resin and further comprising the step of selecting a first solvent and a second solvent wherein the second solvent is selected from the group consisting of a phosphine oxide or tertiary amine and wherein the first solvent has a boiling point that is lower than the carboxylic acid fermentation product and wherein the second solvent is miscible with the first solvent and has a boiling point above the carboxylic acid fermentation product.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the first solvent is selected from the group consisting of acetone and methanol.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein the non-ionic resin is poly(4-vinylpyridine).
12. The method of claim 9 wherein the method further comprises desorbing the fermentation product from the resin using a mixture of the first solvent and the second solvent.
13. The method of claim 12 further comprising distilling the first and second solvent from a mixture of the desorbed carboxylic acid fermentation product and the first and second solvent.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the carboxylic acid fermentation product is isolated.