title: Characterization of natural low transition temperature mixtures (LTTMs): Green solvents for biomass delignification.
abstract: The aim of this work was to characterize the natural low transition temperature mixtures (LTTMs) as promising green solvents for biomass pretreatment with the critical characteristics of cheap, biodegradable and renewable, which overcome the limitations of ionic liquids (ILs). The LTTMs were derived from inexpensive commercially available hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) and l-malic acid as the hydrogen bond donor (HBD) in distinct molar ratios of starting materials and water. The peaks involved in the H-bonding shifted and became broader for the OH groups. The thermal properties of the LTTMs were not affected by water while the biopolymers solubility capacity of LTTMs was improved with the increased molar ratio of water and treatment temperature. The pretreatment of oil palm biomass was consistence with the screening on solubility of biopolymers. This work provides a cost-effective alternative to utilize microwave hydrothermal extracted green solvents such as malic acid from natural fruits and plants.
authors.affiliation: Biomass Processing Technology Cluster, Center of Biofuel and Biochemical Research, Mission Oriented Research (Green Technology), Chemical Engineering Department, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Bandar Seri Iskandar, 32610 Tronoh, Perak, Malaysia. Electronic address: ychungloong2009@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Chung Loong
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Yiin
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 860-8555, Japan. Electronic address: quitain@kumamoto-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Armando T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Quitain
authors.affiliation: Biomass Processing Technology Cluster, Center of Biofuel and Biochemical Research, Mission Oriented Research (Green Technology), Chemical Engineering Department, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Bandar Seri Iskandar, 32610 Tronoh, Perak, Malaysia. Electronic address: drsuzana_yusuf@petronas.com.my.
authors.forename: Suzana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yusup
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 860-8555, Japan. Electronic address: msasaki@kumamoto-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Mitsuru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.affiliation: Biomass Processing Technology Cluster, Center of Biofuel and Biochemical Research, Mission Oriented Research (Green Technology), Chemical Engineering Department, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Bandar Seri Iskandar, 32610 Tronoh, Perak, Malaysia. Electronic address: yoshimitsu_uemura@petronas.com.my.
authors.forename: Yoshimitsu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Uemura
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 860-8555, Japan. Electronic address: tetsuya@kumamoto-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kida
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D001704:Biopolymers / Q000737:chemistry; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004055:Differential Thermal Analysis; D008031:Lignin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012995:Solubility; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013818:Thermogravimetry; D044366:Transition Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001704:Biopolymers; D012997:Solvents; D014867:Water; D008031:Lignin
keywords: Biopolymer solubility; Low transition temperature mixture (LTTM); Physicochemical property; Pretreatment; Water