Solvolytic liquefaction of oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) fibres: analysis of product fractions using FTIR and pyrolysis-GCMS
Oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) fibers were subjected to solvolytic liquefaction to convert into liquid products using ethylene glycol (EG) as a supporting agent. The process was carried out at 250˚C for 60 min. The water-insoluble product fraction was exhaustively extracted with acetone (ASL fract...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
2013
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| Online Access: | http://journalarticle.ukm.my/6283/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/6283/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/6283/1/12_Fei_Ling.pdf |
| Summary: | Oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) fibers were subjected to solvolytic liquefaction to convert into liquid products using ethylene glycol (EG) as a supporting agent. The process was carried out at 250˚C for 60 min. The water-insoluble product fraction was exhaustively extracted with acetone (ASL fraction) to separate all less polar. FTIR and comparative analytical pyrolysis GC/MS of the parent EFB fiber and the ASL fraction confirmed the formation of larger amounts of long-chain lipophilic compounds under liquefaction conditions. Furthermore, a considerable amount of less polar thermal lignin degradation products were obtained comprising all of the three main lignin building blocks, i.e. 4-hydroxyphenyl- (P units), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl- (G units) and 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl (S units) substituted compounds. 4-Prop-2-en-1-yl substituted phenolic compounds contributed mostly to the cumulated peak area of all lignin derived pyrolysis products obtained by analytical Curie point pyrolysis GC/MS at 600°C. The results of both instrumental-analytical methods confirm the formation of phenol and its derivatives, furan derivatives, organic acids, hydrocarbon, ester, benzene groups and alcohols. |
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