Lignocellulosic biomass fractionation through biphasic-solvent system

Abstract

Lignocellulose fractionation is one of promising processes that enables utilization of lignin and cellulose from certain plantation. Especially for Indonesia that has abundant resources of biomass wood-like waste, this process can be an essential step for previously mentioned waste. In this work, empty fruit bunch of palm oil plantation fractionation attempts were conducted by reacting it with formic acid as internal hydrogen source. Numbers of solvents were used to assist C-O cleavage such as alcohols, water, gamma valerolactone, and combination of solvents. Performance of each fractionation attempt was evaluated using analytical method developed by US NREL (United States National Renewable Energy Laboratory) to determine degree of delignification and hemicellulose removal. Of all attempted combination, highest hemicellulose removal and delignification was achieved using a butanol-water-formic acid system at 180 oC with 100 and 83 % for hemicellulose removal and delignification respectively. Thus, this simple approach can be a potential viable solution for lignocellulose utilization in the future to minimize the environmental burden due to lignocellulose waste accumulation.