CONVERSION OF LACTIC ACID FROM EMPTY FRUIT BUNCH BY ALKALINE CATALYST

• Main Author: Puspita Aini, Apsari
• Format: Theses
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/33381
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Lactic acid is a platform chemical which could be applied in various industries, especially the production of Poly Lactic Acid (PLA), biodegradable plastic. An abundant waste from palm oil mill industry, empty fruit bunch (EFB), is one of potential feedstock to be used in production of lactic acid from lignocellulosic biomass. It is due to EFB contains high cellulose and hemicellulose about 37–59.7% w/w and 16–28% w/w, respectively. The aim of this study were to examine the effects of alkaline catalyst NaOH, Ca(OH)2, and Ba(OH)2, and the experimental parameters, such as temperature, reaction time, biomass loading, catalyst concentration on the yield of lactic acid. EFB pretreatment with steam explosion was applied in order to remove lignin content. The results showed that EFB pretreatment reduced the lignin content from 22.66% to 9.69% w/w. While, hemicelulose and cellulose increased from 14.40% to 16.40% w/w and 29.37% to 63.57% w/w, respectively. The increase in cellulose and hemicellulose content was due to the release of lignin that binds cellulose and hemicellulose on EFB. High percentage of cellulose and hemicellulose are expected to be utilized as raw materials for production of lactic acid. The yield of lactic acid using Ba(OH)2 as alkaline catalyst was higher compared with NaOH and Ca(OH)2. Temperature and catalyst concentration are the most influence parameters on the yield of lactic acid. The highest yield of lactic acid was 21,57%C-mol, achieved by using 0,25 M Ba(OH)2 as catalyst, with 5%w/v biomass loading, temperature 240°C, during 4 h reaction times.