Succinic acid adsorption from fermentation broth and regeneration

Area of Science:

• Chemical Engineering
• Separation Science
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Succinic acid is a valuable platform chemical produced via fermentation.
• Efficient and cost-effective separation of succinic acid from complex fermentation broths remains a challenge.
• Current purification methods often involve energy-intensive processes or harsh chemicals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and evaluate sorbent materials for the selective uptake and recovery of succinic acid.
• To assess the regeneration stability and efficiency of promising sorbent resins.
• To develop a cost-effective separation strategy for industrial-scale succinic acid production.

Main Methods:

• Screening of over 25 sorbent materials for succinic acid adsorption from aqueous solutions.
• Evaluation of selected resins (XUS 40285, XFS-40422) for loading capacity and regeneration using hot water, acid, and base washes.
• Packed column experiments for separation of succinic acid from simulated and actual fermentation media.
• Analysis of regeneration stability over multiple cycles (up to 10 cycles).

Main Results:

• Resin XUS 40285 showed good selectivity for succinate over glucose and stable capacity at acidic and neutral pH.
• Initial hot water regeneration achieved high succinic acid concentration (>100 g/L) but lacked long-term stability.
• Resins XUS 40285 and XFS-40422 demonstrated stable capacities and >95% recovery over 10 cycles using a combined acid and hot water regeneration method.
• These resins showed comparable performance with actual fermentation broths, separating succinic acid from acetate and sugars.

Conclusions:

• Sorbent resins XUS 40285 and XFS-40422 are effective for succinic acid separation and recovery.
• A combined acid and hot water regeneration strategy ensures stable and high-efficiency recovery.
• This sorbent-based approach offers a promising, potentially lower-cost alternative for industrial succinic acid purification.