title: Effect of ultrasonic pre-treatment on low temperature acid hydrolysis of oil palm empty fruit bunch.
abstract: Various pre-treatment techniques change the physical and chemical structure of the lignocellulosic biomass and improve hydrolysis rates. The effect of ultrasonic pre-treatment on oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fibre prior to acid hydrolysis has been evaluated. The main objective of this study was to determine if ultrasonic pre-treatment could function as a pre-treatment method for the acid hydrolysis of OPEFB fibre at a low temperature and pressure. Hydrolysis at a low temperature was studied using 2% sulphuric acid; 1:25 solid liquid ratio and 100 degrees C operating temperature. A maximum xylose yield of 58% was achieved when the OPEFB fibre was ultrasonicated at 90% amplitude for 45min. In the absence of ultrasonic pre-treatment only 22% of xylose was obtained. However, no substantial increase of xylose formation was observed for acid hydrolysis at higher temperatures of 120 and 140 degrees C on ultrasonicated OPEFB fibre. The samples were then analysed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to describe the morphological changes of the OPEFB fibre. The SEM observations show interesting morphological changes within the OPEFB fibre for different acid hydrolysis conditions.
authors: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Malaysia. robiah@eng.upm.edu.my
authors: Robiah
authors: R
authors: Yunus
authors: Shanti Faridah
authors: SF
authors: Salleh
authors: Nurhafizah
authors: N
authors: Abdullah
authors: Dyg Radiah Awg
authors: DR
authors: Biak
mesh_terms: D028023:Arecaceae / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects; D003080:Cold Temperature; D005638:Fruit / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006868:Hydrolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D000073878:Palm Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000378:metabolism*; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D013464:Sulfuric Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014465:Ultrasonics / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D010938:Plant Oils; D013464:Sulfuric Acids; D000073878:Palm Oil; C033158:sulfuric acid