Concentration of acid hydrolysate by reverse osmosis and mechanical vapor recompression evaporation

The aim of this project was to investigate possible methods for the concentration of acid hydrolyzate obtained from hydrolyzing wood. A detailed study of concentration of sugar solution by reverse osmosis, RO, has been performed as well as a comparison with mechanical vapor recompression evaporation. The comparison has, in this specific case, shown that RO is currently more expensive. The result is, however, highly dependent on investment costs, and future expansion of membrane technology could mean lower area costs which would favor the technology.