Rapid Analysis of Furfural and Acetic Acid From Lignocellulose Hydrolysate in Fermentation Media

Currently, much research is being conducted on utilization of lignocellulosic biomass for biofuel production. For example, acid hydrolysis of lignocellulose releases sugars, which can be used to grow oleaginous microorganisms. The lipids of the organisms can be extracted and formulated into renewable fuels and chemicals. However, acid hydrolysis of lignocellulose also produces furfural and acetic acid, which can potentially inhibit microbial growth. This paper will present a rapid GC technique for the simultaneous quantitation of acetic acid and furfural in fermentation media. Prior to analysis, the samples were extracted with chloroform containing hexanoic acid as an internal standard. The separation of the compounds was achieved on a Restek Stabilwax DA column. Detection methods of mass spectrometry and flame ionization were evaluated in terms of detection limits, linearity, and reproducibility.