Investigation of Lignin Content Removal in the Steam Exploded Empty Fruit Bunch Fibers

Abstract:

Empty fruit bunch (EFB) is a potential chemical feedstock particularly cellulose and lignin. However, the complete extraction of lignocellulosic structure in EFB is complex and difficult to achieve. Steam explosion is a pre-treatment process which has the ability to loosen the polymeric bond between the EFB structures. In this paper, the effect of steam explosion process towards the lignin removal was investigated. The raw EFB and exploded EFB were further extracted through the alkaline-hydrolysis process to obtain the yield of the insoluble lignin. In addition, the samples were also characterized using FTIR and TGA analysis. The yield obtained showed that the amount of lignin was reducing after the steam explosion process. Similar data were also recorded from the FTIR and TGA analyses. This work concludes that other than reducing the polymeric strength of the EFB’s lignocellulosic structure, the steam explosion also helps the delignification process.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volume 797)
• Pages: 218-223
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.797.218
• Online since: March 2019
• Authors: Saidatul Jamari, Mohd Noor Nawi, Khairatun Najwa Mohd Amin, Nurul Sa'aadah Sulaiman, Shahril Mohamad, Junaidi Zakaria, Mohd Faizal Ali, Shalyda Md Shaarani, Aainaa Izyan Nafsun, Muhammad Arif Fahmi Supian, Rahimi Mohammad, Zulkafli Hassan*
• Keywords: Biomass, Empty Fruit Bunches, Lignin Removal, Steam Explosion

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