Comparative studies of products obtained from solvolysis liquefaction of oil palm empty fruit bunch fibres using different solvents.
Solvolysis of oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) fibres using different solvents (acetone, ethylene glycol (EG), ethanol, water and toluene) were carried out using an autoclave at 275°C for 60 min. The solvent efficiency in term of conversion yield was found to be: EG>water>ethanol>acetone>toluene. The liquid products and residue obtained were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and gas chromatography/mass selectivity. The obtained results showed that the chemical properties of the oil product were significantly affected by the type of solvent used for the solvolysis process. The higher heating value (HHV) of oil products obtained using ethanol is ∼29.42 MJ/kg, which is the highest among the oil products produced using different solvents. Water, ethanol and toluene yield major phenolic compounds. While EG favors the formation of alcohol compounds and acetone yields ketone and aldehyde compounds.
School of Applied Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
Suet-Pin
SP
Fan
Sarani
S
Zakaria
Chin-Hua
CH
Chia
Fatin
F
Jamaluddin
Sharifah
S
Nabihah
Tze-Khong
TK
Liew
Fei-Ling
FL
Pua
D028023:Arecaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D000073878:Palm Oil; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D012996:Solutions; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry*
D010936:Plant Extracts; D010938:Plant Oils; D012996:Solutions; D012997:Solvents; D000073878:Palm Oil