(3-Chloro-2-hydroxypropyl) trimethylammonium chloride and polyethyleneimine co-modified pomelo peel cellulose-derived aerogel for remelt syrup decolorization in sugar refining

• Published in: International journal of biological macromolecules Vol. 229; pp. 1054 - 1068
• Main Authors: Zhou, Li-Shu, Xiong, Yan-Shu, Jia, Ran, Li, Ming-Xing, Fan, Bo-Huan, Tang, Jia-Yi, Li, Wen, Lu, Hai-Qin, Lan, Yu-Wei, Li, Kai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 28.02.2023
• Subjects: Adsorption; Adsorption mechanism; Amines; Cellulose; Chlorides; Hypromellose Derivatives; Polyethyleneimine; Pomelo peel; Quantum chemical calculations; Sugars; Quantum chemical calculations; Pomelo peel; Adsorption mechanism
• ISSN: 0141-8130; 1879-0003
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.12.290

The crucial need for quality refined sugar has led to the development of advanced adsorbents, with a focus on the decolorization of remelt syrup. In this study, (3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl) trimethylammonium chloride and polyethyleneimine co-modified pomelo peel cellulose-derived aerogel (CP-PPA) was fabricated, and synthetic melanoidins were used as model colorants of remelt syrup to evaluate the validity and practicality of CP-PPA for eliminating colored impurities. Integrating abundant amine-functionalized groups (quaternary ammonium and protonated amine) within the pomelo peel-derived aerogel directionally captured electronegative melanoidins via electrostatic interactions. Furthermore, the active sites, types, and relative strength of the weak interactions between CP-PPA and melanoidins were determined using density functional theory simulations. CP-PPA exhibited an excellent equilibration adsorbing capacity for capturing melanoidins of 749.51 mg/g, and a removal efficiency of 93.69 %. Additionally, the adsorption mechanism was thoroughly examined in an effort to improve the economy of the sugar refinement industry. [Display omitted] •Pomelo peel was exploited to make cost-effective and non-toxic aerogel.•Well-developed porous network-like CP-PPA was prepared and characterized.•The absorption mechanism was deciphered by the phenomenological models.•The possible donor–acceptor adsorption relationship was vividly presented.