C. Kevin Chambliss,^* Christopher Becker and Monica N. Feazell

Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry

Baylor University

P.O. Box 97348

Waco, TX 76798-7348

Phone: (254)710-6849

Fax: (254)710-4272

Email: kevin_chambliss@baylor.edu

A persistent challenge in biomass processing involves balancing the severity of pretreatment chemistry with the production of microbial inhibitors. Although the identification of toxic degradation products continues to be an attractive avenue of discovery, there is general consensus that C₄-C₉ aliphatic acids, aromatic acids, and phenols are among the most inhibitory compounds present in pretreatment hydrolysates. Several methods have been suggested for detoxification of pretreated biomass, including anion exchange. A novel redox-recyclable anion-exchange process has been demonstrated, enabling 1) simultaneous extraction of organic acids and phenols, 2) quantitiative recovery of extracted components in a minimal volume, and 3) regeneration of strong-base anion exchangers using redox chemistry. As compared with traditional ion exchange, the new process offers an alternative stripping method based on a redox process rather than a displacement principle. Accordingly, the anion exchanger is regenerated without the use of a high concentration of displacing anion, potentially enabling reduced costs associated with regeneration.