Improved permselectivity of forward osmosis membranes for efficient concentration of pretreated rice straw and bioethanol production

The hydrothermal pretreatment of rice straw generates a liquid fraction that contains low concentrations of sugars, as well as fermentation inhibitors which are not favourable for efficient bioethanol production. For the development of a forward osmosis (FO) process to concentrate sugars and remove fermentation inhibitors, we fabricated polyamide-polysulfone (PA-PSf) membranes treated with NaClO solution. The NaClO treatment improved the water permeability (A value) and the permselectivity of fermentation inhibitors against sugars. Maximum separation of xylose from furfural and acetic acid was achieved when the treated membranes had A values of 5.5–7 L m⁻² h⁻¹ bar⁻¹. Using an optimized membrane with A value of approximately 6 L m⁻² h⁻¹ bar⁻¹, a liquid fraction from hydrothermally pretreated rice straw was concentrated in a one-step FO process to increase sugar concentrations and decrease fermentation inhibitor concentrations. The ethanol concentration and yield (ethanol/total sugar) by xylose-utilizing Saccharomyces cerevisiae reached 18.0 g/L and 0.40, respectively, which were much higher than those obtained with commercial FO membranes. These results clearly indicate the possibility of introducing a simple and low-cost FO process into bioethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass by incorporating NaClO treatment to FO membrane.