Recircanol: Circular recovery of ethanol from alkaline ethanol media at high pH using membrane technology
- Other people involved: Gerrald Bargeman (promotor), Sander Haase (co-promotor)
- Duration: 2024-2028
- Funding: TKI E&I for the consortium formed by UTwente, Greencovery, Nobian, Solsep, Pervatech and ISPT (project reference: TKI2023 Recircanol)
Introduction
Processes that involve the use of alcohols as (anti)solvents and the application of pH switches to recover and purify (functional) ingredients of food side streams have been developed. The recovery of (anti)solvents using e.g. distillation requires significant amounts of energy, though. Membrane technology could be an alternative separation technology to make the food, biotech, and chemical industry more circular, flexible and energy-efficient.
Key words
Nanofiltration, Upcycling, Ethanol, Alkaline
Technological challenges
Generate new of scientific and technological knowledge on pH-stable and solvent-resistant nanofiltration membranes for use at alkaline conditions.
Research questions
Scientifically evaluate lab-scale novel as well as potentially suitable commercially available nanofiltration membranes and membrane modules that can be used in alkaline-alcohol media at high pH for the purification and recovery of ethanol and caustic.