Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch derived Microcrystalline Cellulose Supported Magnetic Acid Catalyst for Esterification Reaction: An Optimization Study

Biomass, renewable, abundantly available and a good source of energy. The conversion of biomass waste into valuable products has received wide attention. In this study, an empty fruit bunch (oil palm EFB) supported magnetic acid catalyst for esterification reaction was successfully prepared via the one-step impregnation process. The new magnetic catalyst achieved a higher surface area of 188.87 m2/g with a total acidity of 2.4 mmol/g and identified iron oxide as g-Fe2O3. The magnetization value of 24.97 emu/g demonstrated that the superparamagnetic catalyst could be easily recovered and separated after the reaction using an external magnet. The catalytic performance of oil palm EFB supported magnetic acid catalyst was examined by esterification of oleic acid. Esterification process parameters were optimized via Response Surface Methodology (RSM) optimization tool with Box-Behnken design (BBD). The following optimum parameters were determined: an amount of 9 wt% catalyst, molar ratio of methanol to oleic acid of 12:1, reaction time of 2 h and reaction temperature of 60 °C with a maximum conversion of 94.91% was achieved. The catalyst can be recycled up to five cycles with minimal loss in its activity. The oil palm waste-based magnetic acid catalyst indicates its potential replacement to the existing solid catalysts that are economical and environmentally friendly for the esterification process in biofuel applications. Copyright © 2021 by Authors, Published by BCREC Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).

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OPTIMIZATION STUDIES OF OIL PALM EMPTY FRUIT BUNCH LIQUEFACTION FOR CARBON CRYOGEL PRODUCTION AS CATALYST IN LEVULINIC ACID ESTERIFICATION

Jurnal Teknologi ◽

10.11113/jt.v80.10501 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 80 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Muzakkir Mohammad Zainol ◽

Nor Aishah Saidina Amin ◽

Mohd Asmadi

Keyword(s):

Oil Palm ◽

Levulinic Acid ◽

Condensation Reaction ◽

Sol Gel ◽

Esterification Reaction ◽

Empty Fruit Bunch ◽

Carbon Cryogel ◽

Predicted Values ◽

Poly Condensation ◽

Acid Esterification

Liquefaction of oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) using 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride was investigated in this study. The experiments were designed based on central composite by response surface methodology (RSM). The optimum conditions for the predicted liquefied EFB yield of 80.97 wt% was obtained at the temperature of 151.9 °C, a reaction time of 112.78 min and a ratio (Ionic liquid to EFB) of 4.27. The Regression coefficient (R2) for the model was 0.90 indicating a high correlation between observed and predicted values. The liquefied EFB mixture was used in the preparation of carbon cryogel via a sol-gel poly-condensation reaction and calcination process. The presence of sulfuric acid during the gel synthesis promoted an active site on the gel linkage and surface. The carbon cryogel prepared was tested as catalyst in an esterification reaction. The conversion of levulinic acid and yield of ethyl levulinate were reported as 58.7% ansd 57.2 mol%, respectively.

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Physicochemical properties and characteristics of microcrystalline cellulose derived from the cellulose of oil palm empty fruit bunch

IOP Conference Series Materials Science and Engineering ◽

10.1088/1757-899x/223/1/012056 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 223 ◽

pp. 012056

Author(s):

H Nasution ◽

Yurnaliza ◽

Veronicha ◽

Irmadani ◽

S Sitompul

Keyword(s):

Physicochemical Properties ◽

Microcrystalline Cellulose ◽

Oil Palm ◽

Empty Fruit Bunch

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Non-Acidic Method for Isolation of Microcrystalline Cellulose From Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Fiber

International Journal of Engineering & Technology ◽

10.14419/ijet.v7i4.14.27670 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (4.14) ◽

pp. 339

Author(s):

N. Samat ◽

N. N. Ghazali ◽

Z. Ahmad ◽

F. Ali

Keyword(s):

Thermal Stability ◽

Microcrystalline Cellulose ◽

Oil Palm ◽

Milling Time ◽

Crystallinity Index ◽

Ammonium Persulfate ◽

Milling Process ◽

Degree Of Crystallinity ◽

Empty Fruit Bunch ◽

Oxidation Treatment

In this study, the microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was extracted via a non-acidic method from the oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) cellulose. The extraction was conducted through Ammonium Persulfate (APS) oxidation treatment, which was followed by the ball milling process. The effects of varied temperature levels from APS oxidation treatment (60, 80 and 90oC) and different milling time (1, 4 hours) were investigated. APS oxidation treatment at 90oC was found to produce the most optimum results. The size of the MCC was less than 20μm and had demonstrated the highest degree of crystallinity index and thermal stability. The high crystallinity index is associated with the removal of non-cellulosic components as seen from FTIR analysis, where a decrease was observed in the characteristic peak intensity of 1735 and 1510 cm-1. The milling time had also affected the formation of MCC. Although a relatively longer milling time had produced smaller MCC with narrow size distribution, it had, however, given rise to a slight adverse effect on the crystallinity index and thermal stability.

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