Separation of galactose, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and levulinic acid in acid hydrolysate of agarose by nanofiltration and electrodialysis

A two-stage membrane process for the separation of galactose, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) and levulinic acid (LA) has been proposed. The first step of nanofiltration (NF) is to remove 5-HMF and LA from galactose solution obtained by the hydrolysis of agarose, the main component of red algal galactan for the reduction of its microbial toxicity. 5-HMF and LA are inhibitory to fermentation but at the same time useful compounds themselves with many applications. The second step of electrodialysis (ED) is to separate 5-HMF and LA in the permeate from NF. More than 91% of 5-HMF and up to 62% of LA could be removed from agarose hydrolysate, while galactose was almost completely retained by NF. Further removal of LA was expected to be possible with no loss of galactose by operating the NF process in a diafiltration mode. 5-HMF and LA could be effectively separated from each other by ED.