Optimization Of Acid Pretreatment Procedures For Oil Palm Trunk Fibers Used In Production Of Sugar

ABSTRACT 

T h e Oil Palm T r u n k ( O P T ) fib e r w a s p r e t r e a t e d , using T e t r a o x o s ulp h a t e ( vi) a cid H 2 SO 4 , H y d r o c hlo ric a cid H Cl, a n d Trioxonitrate (v) acid HNO 3 , at temperature of 80 o C, and residence time varying from 15 to 45 minutes, and acid concentration between 1 - 2 . 5 % . I t w a s f o u n d t h a t t h e o p tim u m a cid c o n c e n t r a tio n a n d residence time for highest sugar yield, was 1% w/w and 30minutes for the three acids investigated. Hydrolysis with HCl gave the highest s u g a r yield . T h e e ff e c t o f a d ditiv e s s u c h a s 0 . 5 M Z n Cl 2 , a n d (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 showed little or no improvement. ZnCl 2 had a marginal effect on the increase in sugar concentration. 

 Keywords: Acid hydrolysis, Oil Palm Trunk (OPT), Optimization, Additives