Lignin Recovery from Black Liquor Using Integrated UF/NF Processes and Economic Analysis
Lignin is a polyphenolic biopolymer present in large amounts in black liquor (BL). This work investigated the recovery of lignin from BL (pre-filtered by ultrafiltration (UF)) by nanofiltration (NF). For the NF tests, laboratory-made mixed matrix membrane (MMM) prepared with 0.1% activated carbon (A...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Membranes |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/13/2/237 |
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| author | Manorma Sharma Patrícia Alves Licínio M. Gando-Ferreira |
| author_facet | Manorma Sharma Patrícia Alves Licínio M. Gando-Ferreira |
| author_sort | Manorma Sharma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Lignin is a polyphenolic biopolymer present in large amounts in black liquor (BL). This work investigated the recovery of lignin from BL (pre-filtered by ultrafiltration (UF)) by nanofiltration (NF). For the NF tests, laboratory-made mixed matrix membrane (MMM) prepared with 0.1% activated carbon (AC) nanoparticles were used in crossflow filtration mode. The effect of pressure (6–15 bar) and volume reduction (VR) (~65%) were analyzed, and the filtration performance was evaluated in terms of permeate flux, lignin rejection rate, and flux reduction. The lignin rejection rate varied in the range of 67–80% with the pressure, however, the highest increases in flux and rejection were observed at 12 bar, which was found to be the optimum pressure. At a VR of ~65%, the permeate flux decreased by ~55% and the lignin rejection rate increased from 78% to 86%. In addition, an economic evaluation was performed for the preparation of UF and NF MMM. The minimum-to-maximum price range was estimated considering the costs of the laboratory and commercial grade regents. It showed a difference of ~10-fold and ~14-fold for UF and NF membranes, respectively. The results of the laboratory-scale study were used to evaluate the economic feasibility of the process for recovering lignin- and hemicellulose-rich retentate streams. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:26:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-86be166fc0da4be48cc85781b4e91d77 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0375 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:26:22Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Membranes |
| spelling | doaj.art-86be166fc0da4be48cc85781b4e91d772023-11-16T22:03:12ZengMDPI AGMembranes2077-03752023-02-0113223710.3390/membranes13020237Lignin Recovery from Black Liquor Using Integrated UF/NF Processes and Economic AnalysisManorma Sharma0Patrícia Alves1Licínio M. Gando-Ferreira2University of Coimbra, CIEPQPF, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Polo II, Rua Sílvio Lima, 3030-790 Coimbra, PortugalUniversity of Coimbra, CIEPQPF, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Polo II, Rua Sílvio Lima, 3030-790 Coimbra, PortugalUniversity of Coimbra, CIEPQPF, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Polo II, Rua Sílvio Lima, 3030-790 Coimbra, PortugalLignin is a polyphenolic biopolymer present in large amounts in black liquor (BL). This work investigated the recovery of lignin from BL (pre-filtered by ultrafiltration (UF)) by nanofiltration (NF). For the NF tests, laboratory-made mixed matrix membrane (MMM) prepared with 0.1% activated carbon (AC) nanoparticles were used in crossflow filtration mode. The effect of pressure (6–15 bar) and volume reduction (VR) (~65%) were analyzed, and the filtration performance was evaluated in terms of permeate flux, lignin rejection rate, and flux reduction. The lignin rejection rate varied in the range of 67–80% with the pressure, however, the highest increases in flux and rejection were observed at 12 bar, which was found to be the optimum pressure. At a VR of ~65%, the permeate flux decreased by ~55% and the lignin rejection rate increased from 78% to 86%. In addition, an economic evaluation was performed for the preparation of UF and NF MMM. The minimum-to-maximum price range was estimated considering the costs of the laboratory and commercial grade regents. It showed a difference of ~10-fold and ~14-fold for UF and NF membranes, respectively. The results of the laboratory-scale study were used to evaluate the economic feasibility of the process for recovering lignin- and hemicellulose-rich retentate streams.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/13/2/237crossflow filtrationfoulingintegrated UF/NF processligninmixed matrix membraneseconomic analysis |
| spellingShingle | Manorma Sharma Patrícia Alves Licínio M. Gando-Ferreira Lignin Recovery from Black Liquor Using Integrated UF/NF Processes and Economic Analysis Membranes crossflow filtration fouling integrated UF/NF process lignin mixed matrix membranes economic analysis |
| title | Lignin Recovery from Black Liquor Using Integrated UF/NF Processes and Economic Analysis |
| title_full | Lignin Recovery from Black Liquor Using Integrated UF/NF Processes and Economic Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Lignin Recovery from Black Liquor Using Integrated UF/NF Processes and Economic Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lignin Recovery from Black Liquor Using Integrated UF/NF Processes and Economic Analysis |
| title_short | Lignin Recovery from Black Liquor Using Integrated UF/NF Processes and Economic Analysis |
| title_sort | lignin recovery from black liquor using integrated uf nf processes and economic analysis |
| topic | crossflow filtration fouling integrated UF/NF process lignin mixed matrix membranes economic analysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/13/2/237 |
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