Parametric Study on the Alkali Pretreatment of Abaca (Musa textilis Née) Waste Fibers Using Sodium Hydroxide

Author : Añonuevo Jr., Dante Gita
Major Adviser : Guerrero, Gino Apollo M. 
Committee Members : Bambase Jr., Manolito E.; Borines, Myra G.; Laurio, Michael Vincent O. 
Year : 2016
Month : June
Type : Thesis
Degree: BS
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Abstract

The cpnversion of lignocellulosic materials such as agricultural wastes to a wide variety of products is one of the promising type of biorefinery. In this study, abaca (Musa textilis Née) waste fibers were used as the lignocellulosic feedstock for alkali pretreatment. During the pretreatment process the effects of temperature, NaOH concentration, and contact time on the total and reducing sugar concentration were determined. The conditions used for each parameter were: 60°C and 100°C, 1% and 5% (w/v), and 15minutes and 60 minutes. It was found that at the given range of parameters: temperature had significant effect on total and reducing sugar concentration; contact time had significant effect on total sugar concentration; and NaOH concentration had no significant effect on the total and reducing sugar concentration. The highest recorded total sugar concentration was 21.004±0.858 mg/mL using 1% (w/v) NaOH solution at 100°C for 60 minutes with 0.555±0.019 mg reducing sugar per mL. It was determined that alkaline pretreatment is effective in removing hemicellulose in the biomass without further degradation of the components to reducing sugars. In the study the effects of the parameters were determined using only the total and reducing sugar analysis, but it is recommended to determine the monomeric sugars in the hydrolysate. This will aid in determining the actual amount of cellulose recovered.


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