Xylose recovery by nanofiltration from different hemicellulose hydrolyzate feeds

Abstract Xylose is an intermediate product in xylitol production. Nanofiltration could simplify and enhance this separation step conventionally done by chromatographic methods. Here different hemicellulose hydrolyzate feeds were nanofiltered to recover xylose into the permeate. Two different batches of hemicellulose hydrolyzate were prepared: the hydrolyzate as such and modified with crystalline xylose addition. Both feed solutions were diluted to a total dry solids (TDS) content of approximately 21 wt.% and the xylose contents were 48.7% and 59.1% of the TDS f (total dry solids in feed). The filtration experiments were made at 40, 50 and 60 °C in total reflux mode for approximately 30 min at each pressure of 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 bar. In addition, a 20-h filtration was made at 50 °C and 30 bar. A DDS LabStak M20-filter was used and it was equipped with Desal-5 DK, Desal-5 DL and NF270 membranes. In short-term filtrations, the nanofiltered permeate of the original hydrolyzate had 78–82% xylose of the TDS p (total dry solids in permeate) and the modified hydrolyzate 86–88% xylose of the TDS p . Thus, considerable xylose purification was obtained. The addition of crystalline xylose into the hemicellulose hydrolyzate gave a notable increase in permeate fluxes. The 20-h filtration showed fouling and compaction effects as a flux decrease of approximately 10–25% was detected in the retention integrity test. According to the results, xylose purification from hemicellulose hydrolyzate could be enhanced by nanofiltration.