Production of xylose from oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber using sulfuric acid

Oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber is a lignocellulosic waste from palm oil mills. It is a potential source of xylose which can be used as a raw material for production of xylitol, a high value product. The increasing interest on use of lignocellulosic waste for bioconversion to fuels and chemicals is justifiable as these materials are low cost, renewable and widespread sources of sugars. Batch hydrolysis of oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber was performed at operating temperature 120 °C using various concentration of sulfuric acid (2–6%) and reaction time (0–90 min). Concentration of xylose, glucose, furfural and acetic acid in the resulting hydrolysate were determined. Kinetic parameters of mathematical models were obtained in order to predict concentration of xylose, glucose, furfural, acetic acid in the hydrolysate and to optimize the process. Optimum H2SO4 concentration and reaction time obtained under operating temperature of 120 °C was 6% and 15 min, respectively. Optimum concentration of xylose, glucose, furfural and acetic acid found in the hydrolysate were 29.4, 2.34, 0.87 and 1.25 (g/l), respectively.