Effect of Temperature on the Yield of Lignin Extracted Using Microwave-Assisted Acetosolv from Empty Fruit Bunch Fibers
Acetosolv technique is considered as one of the best alternative way to extract technical lignin from biomass as it has high efficiency and environmentally friendly. In this study, microwave-assisted acetosolv technique were used to extract lignin from oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) in the presence of 3% sulfuric acid catalyst reacted at various temperature. The yield of the extracted acetosolv lignin were calculated using modified Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry biomass composition analysis (TAPPI) method. The result showed that, as the temperature increased from 90 to 110 °C, the yield of lignin extracted also increase from 43.07 to 76.98%. The presence of guaiacyl and p-coumarate indicates the presence of active sites at C-3 and C-5 of aromatic ring for polymerization reactions. Scanning Electron Microscopy images showed that removal of lignin are intensified as the microwave-assisted acetosolv temperature increased.