Optimization of lignin removal pre-treatment process in acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) production from empty fruit bunches of oil palm

Abstract

Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) is an abundant waste from palm oil refinery. Its high lignocellulose content can be utilized as raw material of Acetone-Butanol-Ethanol (ABE). However, lignin content become a hindrance in enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation process. Alkaline Hydrogen Peroxide (AHP) Pre-treatment was employed in this study to remove the lignin since it has high selectivity. The optimum operating condition (EFP and AHP ratio, temperature, and time) was also studied using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The lignin removal was significantly influenced by the operating condition based on Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) (P≤0.05). The highest removal of lignin (91.6%) was obtained at 54,56 °C, 20% ratio of EFB in AHP and 6 hour. The highest 97.75% of lignin removal was attained from developed model at 43.57 °C, 30.86% ratio and 6.75 hour. To get the maximum lignin removal results, it takes a longer reaction time with a higher EFB ratio.