Optimization Of Acid Pretreatment Procedures For Oil Palm Trunk Fibers Used In Production Of Sugar (#44798)

The Oil Palm Trunk (OPT) fiber was pretreated, using Tetraoxosulphate (vi) acid H2SO4, Hydrochloric acid HCl, and Trioxonitrate (v) acid HNO3, at temperature of 80 o C, and residence time varying from 15 to 45 minutes, and acid concentration between 1-2.5%. It was found that the optimum acid concentration and residence time for highest sugar yield, was 1% w/w and 30minutes for the three acids investigated. Hydrolysis with HCl gave the highest sugar yield. The effect of additives such as 0.5M ZnCl2, and (NH4)2SO4 showed little or no improvement. ZnCl2 had a marginal effect on the increase in sugar concentration.