Lignin preparation from oil palm empty fruit bunches by sequential acid/alkaline treatment--A biorefinery approach

Bioresour Technol. 2015 Oct:194:172-8. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2015.07.018. Epub 2015 Jul 9.

Abstract

Lignin is an important raw material for the sustainable biorefineries and also the forerunner of high-value added products, such as biocomposite for chemical, pharmaceutical and cement industries. Oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) were used for lignin preparation by successive treatment with 1% (w/w) H2SO4 at 121°C for 60 min and 2.5% NaOH at 121°C for 80 min resulting in the high lignin yield of 28.89%, corresponding to 68.82% of the original lignin. The lignin obtained was characterized by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The results indicated a lignin with molecular masses ramping from 4500 kDa to 12,580 kDa. FTIR and NMR of these lignins showed more syringyl and p-hydroxyphenyl than guaiacyl units. Moderate acid/alkaline treatment provided lignin with high industrial potential and acid hydrolyzates rich in fermentable sugars and highly porous cellulosic fibers.

Keywords: Acid/alkaline pretreatment; Biorefineries; Characterization; Lignin extraction; Oil palm empty fruit bunches.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arecaceae / drug effects
  • Arecaceae / metabolism*
  • Arecaceae / ultrastructure
  • Biotechnology / methods*
  • Carbon-13 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Fruit / drug effects
  • Fruit / metabolism*
  • Fruit / ultrastructure
  • Lignin / metabolism*
  • Molecular Weight
  • Palm Oil
  • Plant Oils / metabolism*
  • Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Sodium Hydroxide / pharmacology*
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
  • Sulfuric Acids / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Plant Oils
  • Sulfuric Acids
  • Sodium Hydroxide
  • Palm Oil
  • Lignin
  • sulfuric acid