Monosaccharide separation from ZnCl₂ molten salt hydrates by zeolite beta

Solvent based processes using ionic liquids or molten salt hydrates provide very efficient cellulose dissolution and hydrolysis from lignocellulosic biomass. Efficient separation of sugars from the solvent is very challenging and a hurdle regarding industrial application. Now it is demonstrated that a microporous zeolitic sorbent can provide a very efficient separation of monosugars from a molten salt hydrate containing hydrolysates. Specific details are presented for the separation of glucose from a ZnCl₂ molten salt hydrate using Zeolite beta. The molten salt hydrate is promoting the separation in this specific solvent/sorbent combination through a type of salting out adsorption mechanism, leading to a process based on a solvent that allows both efficient cellulose dissolution and hydrolysis and very efficient glucose isolation from the solvent afterwards.