DELIGNIFICATION OF BIOMASS USING BIOMIMETIC CATALYST SOLUTION

• Main Author: Fitri Aulia, Bela
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/50752
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Despite the potential of lignin as a base molecule in the form of aromatic compositions, lignin is still considered a waste in the process of converting biomass to biofuels. This is caused by there is not yet available the effective method and cost-effective of lignin separation technology from cellulose. One method that is considered potential to be developed is the biomimetic oxidative delignification method which is inspired by the natural delignification mechanism of ligninolytic enzymes produced by fungi and bacteria in the weathering process of wood. By imitating nature to make a lignin biomimetic oxidation process system using a metal ion-based catalyst solution, it is expected that lignin in biomass can be depolymerized into its monomers so as to produce high-value aromatic chemicals effectively, economically, and save energy. The objective of the present research is obtain a process and catalyst system that could appropriately serve as a basis of oxidative delignification technology for pretreating oilpalm empty fruit-bunches using a catalyst in the form of combined Mn and Co acetate/formate solutions that have been successfully used in catalyzing acetaldehyde oxidation into acetic acid. The research just completed the stage of catalyst preparation and testing when COVID-19 pandemic occured, making further experimentation in the laboratory impossible. The results so far achieved from experimental laboratory activities showed that combinations of Mn-Co salts could not be used as oxidation delignification catalysts, for they could not activate molecular oxygen unless in the presence of an additional peroxide-forming reactant. Instead, a complex manganic formate compound K2{Mn(H2O)2[Mn3O(OOCH)9]2} has been successfully prepared and appeared potential to become an autoxidation catalyst. A desk study carried out during the period of no further experimental activities indicated that biomimetic oxidation catalysts strongly recommended to be tested in a subsequential research is the salts of copper-manganese (Cu-Mn) metal pair.