Effect of Co2-Added Steam Explosion on Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch for Bioethanol Production

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effect of adding CO2 as an impregnation agent in steam explosion on oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) for bioethanol production. The influence of this treatment on the characteristics of EFB, enzymatic hydrolysis, and fermentation of EFB was evaluated in this investigation. CO2-added steam explosion was conducted varying the CO2 impregnation time (0, 30, 60 min). The results showed that the addition of CO2 in steam explosion increased the surface area, pore area, and pore volume of EFB. Furthermore, this treatment enabled obtaining yields of glucose and ethanol of 84.14% and 56.01%, respectively, for 60 min CO2 impregnation time. These results were higher than the glucose and ethanol yields of the sample treated by conventional steam explosion, which reached 58.12% and 41.37%, respectively. The findings illustrate the possibility of applying CO2-added steam explosion (CO2SE) for increasing the efficiency of biomass conversion.

Simultaneous Delignification and Furfural Production of Palm Oil Empty Fruit Bunch by Novel Ternary Deep Eutectic Solvent

“…It indicated that some silica was removed from OPEFB. The pretreatment can reduce lignin content and remove the biomass's silica [43]. According to Fig.…”

Circular Synergy between Biomass and Petroleum Industry in Process and Supply Chain Integration

“…32 Alternative to bio-oil integration potential, the blending of bio-ethanol (derived from biomass fermentation) with petroleum fuel (e.g., gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel) is another promising integration pathway to establishing a CE relationship between the agriculture and petroleum industry. 33 Prior to the fermentation process, pre-treatment processes (e.g., acid treatment, 34 alkali treatment, 35 sequential acid and alkali treatment, 36 and steam and CO 2 explosion treatment 37 ) are essentially needed to increase the cellulose concentration in the substrate from the breakdown of complex hemicellulose and lignin structures. It is followed by enzymatic hydrolysis or saccharification to cleave the large cellulose molecules into monosaccharide sugars to promote ethanol production during fermentation.…”

“…Prior to the fermentation process, pre-treatment processes ( e.g. , acid treatment, alkali treatment, sequential acid and alkali treatment, and steam and CO 2 explosion treatment) are essentially needed to increase the cellulose concentration in the substrate from the breakdown of complex hemicellulose and lignin structures. It is followed by enzymatic hydrolysis or saccharification to cleave the large cellulose molecules into monosaccharide sugars to promote ethanol production during fermentation .…”