title: Experimental and kinetic modelling studies on the acid-catalysed hydrolysis of the water hyacinth plant to levulinic acid.
abstract: A comprehensive experimental and modelling study on the acid-catalysed hydrolysis of the water hyacinth plant (Eichhornia crassipes) to optimise the yield of levulinic acid (LA) is reported (T=150-175 degrees CH2SO4 = 0.1-1M, water hyacinth intake=1-5wt%). At high acid concentrations (>0.5M), LA was the major organic acid whereas at low acid concentrations (<0.1M) and high initial intakes of water hyacinth, the formation of propionic acid instead of LA was favoured. The highest yield of LA was 53mol% (35wt%) based on the amount of C6-sugars in the water hyacinth (T=175 degrees CH2SO4 =1M , water hyacinth intake=1wt%). The LA yield as a function of the process conditions was modelled using a kinetic model originally developed for the acid-catalysed hydrolysis of cellulose and good agreement between the experimental and modelled data was obtained.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, Netherlands; Department of Chemical Engineering, Parahyangan Catholic University, Ciumbuleuit 94, 40141 Bandung, Indonesia.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Girisuta
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Danon
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Manurung
authors.forename: L P B M
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Heeres
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D002384:Catalysis; D002482:Cellulose / Q000378:metabolism; D031806:Eichhornia / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D005662:Furaldehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D005690:Galactose / Q000378:metabolism; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007700:Kinetics; D007982:Levulinic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism; D013464:Sulfuric Acids / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007982:Levulinic Acids; D013464:Sulfuric Acids; D002482:Cellulose; D005662:Furaldehyde; D005947:Glucose; C033158:sulfuric acid; C032246:levulinic acid; D005690:Galactose