Process for the detoxification of lignocellulosic hydrolysate and its use in synthesizing xylitol

A process for the simultaneous detoxification and concentration of xylose rich biomass derived liquid hydrolysate using a custom-designed glass chamber, wherein said process comprises the steps of:

• i. hydrolysing the biomass for the pretreatment by using dilute sulphuric acid, wherein the ratio of biomass and sulphuric acid is 1:8 at a temperature in the range of 138° C.-140° C. with a holding time period in the range of 85-90 minutes at 100-120 rpm to obtain a biomass slurry;
• ii. passing the discharged biomass slurry as obtained in step i) through a squeezer for solid-liquid separation to obtain a xylose rich liquid solution;
• iii. keeping the xylose rich liquid solution as obtained in step ii) in a solar concentrator and exposing to sunlight at a temperature in the range of 25° C. to 45° C. for a period in the range of 47-48 hours to obtain the substantially furfural free xylose rich acid hydrolysed detoxified hydrolysate, wherein, the said detoxification and concentration process resulted in removal of ˜95% of furfural in the acid hydrolysed xylose rich lignocellulosic composition.