Kinetic study of hemicellulosic sugar production from hazelnut shells

Hazelnut shells are important agricultural waste in Turkey for potential ethanol production. We investigated a kinetic model for sulfuric acid hydrolysis of hazelnut shell. Hydrolysis reaction was performed within the range 100–120 °C at 0.3–0.5 M acid concentrations with the 1/7 solid to liquid ratio. First order reaction model was assumed and reaction rate constants were found as a function of temperature and sulfuric acid concentration. Reaction rates for the generation of reducing sugar from hemicellulose and for the formation of furfural from reducing sugar were found to be dependent on both temperature and acid concentration. The proposed model was found to be most suitable for 0.4 M sulfuric acid concentration.

► The hydrolysis of hazelnut shell with sulfuric acid at different temperatures and acid concentrations was studied.
► A kinetic model for hazelnut shell hydrolysis was developed as a function of temperature and sulfuric acid concentration.
► The proposed model was found to be most suitable for 0.4 M sulfuric acid concentration.