8-18: Adsorption of furfurals onto activated biochars made from agricultural residues

Cellulosic ethanol production depends on hydrolysis of hemicellulose (and sometimes cellulose) by acids.   Some of the released sugars further react to form compounds (e.g., furfurals) that inhibit the yeast in the subsequent ethanol fermentation.  This presentation will summarize the feasibility of using agricultural residues (e.g., plant waste) as starting materials for activated biochars to adsorb these degradation products and remove their inhibitory effects.  Results show that both furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural were adsorbed by steam activated biochars made from agricultural residues left from cotton and linen production.  The activated biochars adsorbed about 14% (by weight) of the furfurals at an equilibrium concentration of 0.5 g/L, and by adding 2.5% of char to a sugar solution with either of the two furfurals, 99% of the furfural (or hydroxymethylfurfural) was removed.