Combined Adsorption and Ion Exchange of D-Glyceric Acid Using a Strong Basic Resin: Equilibrium, Kinetics, and Thermodynamics

Abstract

D-Glyceric acid (D-GA) is a glycerol derivative with various promising biological functions. This paper reports the adsorption of D-GA from aqueous solution using a strong basic resin. The effect of pH on the uptake of D-GA was studied, and several models were used to investigate the interactions of D-GA and the resin. A theoretical model based on ion exchange and adsorption was developed to fit the isotherms under various pH or temperatures. Kinetic experiments under different initial D-GA concentrations were also performed to define the controlling mechanism of the overall adsorption process. The results showed that the uptake process of D-GA was controlled by the rate of D-GA diffusion through the polymeric matrix of the resin. This study provides valuable information and theoretical support for the scale-up and optimization of operating conditions for the recovery of D-GA.