COMPARATIVE STUDIES OF PRODUCTS OBTAINED FROM SOLVOLYSIS LIQUEFACTION OF EMPTY FRUIT BUNCH FIBRES USING DIFFERENT SOLVENTS

摘要

Solvolysis of empty fruit bunches (EFB) fibres using different solvents (acetone, ethylene glycol (EG), ethanol, water and toluene) were carried out to analyze the solvent effect on the biomass solvolysis process. Experiments were conducted in an autoclave in the condition of temperature 275°C, reaction time 60 min, EFB fibres 5 g and solvent 20 g respectively. Solvent efficiency in term of conversion yield as followed: EG > water > ethanol > acetone > toluene. The liquid products and residue obtained were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and gas chromatography/mass selectivity. The analytical results showed that the oil products were significantly affected by solvent type. The higher heating value (HV) of ethanol oil products was the highest, 29.42 MJ/kg. With water, ethanol and toluene as solvent, the major compounds were phenolic compounds, while EG favoured the formation of alcohols and acetone yields products in the range of ketones and aldehyde.