Structural Analysis on the Effect of Base-Catalysed Delignification Process Parameters on Palm Oil Empty Fruit Bunches Fibres using Glycome Profiling

Abstract

Malaysian Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches (EFB) fibre was used as a model substrate and was subjected to base-catalysed delignification technique as a function of different temperature, time and base concentration. The resultant substrates were analysed using glycome profiling technique to ascertain the degree of delignification effectiveness and position of the residual lignin in the structure of the pre-treated biomass. The study indicated that the base-catalysed delignification technique removes all the outer lignin structure of the fibre due to the accessibility of the base to the surface of the biomass. Base wash concentration using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and temperature are the two main factors that determine the effectiveness of lignin removal and increment of surface area accessibility (SAA). The pre-treated biomass that contains the lowest amount of residual lignin content of 6.19 wt.% which corresponds to 74.47% lignin removal shows complete removal of the outer layer of lignin structure but leaves the inner lignin structure intact. This study suggests that the complex interaction between different cell wall constituents plays a much bigger role in order to achieve efficient delignification.