A Kinetic Study on Acid Hydrolysis of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Fibers Using a Microwave Reactor System

摘要

Oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) is the most major agricultural byproduct in Malaysia, which can be used to produce various chemical feedstocks. Hydrolysis of lignocellulosic materials including EFB fibers involves very complex mechanisms. In this study, EFB fibers were hydrolyzed using a microwave reactor under different reaction conditions (concentration of sulfuric acid and temperature). A series of first-order reaction models was used to develop the kinetic study of the acid hydrolysis of EFB fibers. The hydrolysis kinetics of the main intermediates, such as sugars (glucose and xylose), 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), levulinic acid (LA), and acetic acid, was found to be dependent on temperature and acid concentration. The highest yields of xylose, glucose, 5-HMF, LA, and acetic acid are 11,21 g/L, 10.03 g/L, 0.50 g/L, 9-27 g/L, and 4.36 g/L, respectively. These kinetic parameters provide useful information and basic data for the practical use of EFB fibers to produce fine chemicals.