Removal of acid-soluble lignin from biomass extracts using Amberlite XAD-4 Resi

Abstract

This paper describes a method for the removal of acid-soluble lignin from acid-hydrolyzed hemicelluloses extracted from a mixture of northern US hardwood chips, by using Amberlite XAD-4 resin, which was shown to remove 100% of furan derivatives and 90% of acid-soluble lignin. Subsequent fermentation of the resin-treated hydrolyzates gave ethanol yields as high as 97% of theoretical and showed a marked increase in the fermentation rate. Regeneration of resin performed with 75% acetone was 85% efficient with respect to acid-soluble lignin.