Simultaneous optimization of simulated moving bed adsorption and distillation for 2,3‐butanediol recovery

Abstract A combined simulated moving bed (SMB) and distillation separation scheme is developed to recover 2,3‐butanediol (BDO) from a dilute fermentation broth. The scheme was integrated into a lignocellulosic biorefinery that produces hydrocarbon fuels from corn stover with BDO as an intermediate. BDO recovery is one of the most challenging processes in this biorefinery; and given the high associated energy duties, direct distillation is considered cost‐prohibitive. An alternative separation is SMB adsorption in nanoporous materials, which can reject 90% of the water and reduce subsequent distillation costs. Rigorous models were used to optimize the SMB and distillation simultaneously. The separation can be added to the biorefinery while keeping the projected minimum fuel selling price (MFSP) below $0.66 USD (US dollars) per liter gasoline‐equivalent ($2.50/GGE, gallon gasoline equivalent). Finally, sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the effects of cost and lifetime of the adsorbent, titer concentration, and BDO purity.