Kinetic Analysis of Xylose Production from Palm Pressed Fiber by Sulfuric Acid

Abstract

Palm pressed fiber (PPF) is lignocellulosic materials containing xylose and glucose. These high sugars contained in PPF can be used as a substrate for ethanol production by microorganisms. The PPF was delignified using sodium hypochlorite as a pretreatment for sugars production. By using mathematic model, 30.6 g L^-1 of xylose and 2.2 g L^-1 of glucose was obtained under the optimum condition of 5% (v.v^-1) H₂SO₄ at 120 ºC for 30 min. At this condition, acetic acid and furfural concentrations were produced at 7.2 g L^-1 and 0.9 g L^-1, respectively. Kinetic parameters were also investigated in order to predict concentrations of xylose, glucose, acetic acid and furfural in the delignified PPF hydrolysate. Yield of xylose was 85.74% of the initial xylose content.