Publication: Deconstruction of Malaysian agro-wastes with inexpensive and bifunctional triethylammonium hydrogen sulfate ionic liquid
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Date
2018
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
American Institute of Physics Inc.
Abstract
Ionic liquids (ILs) are known to be very effective at deconstructing biomass, but, they are typically 5-20 times more expensive than molecular solvents; this is a major impediment to the utilisation of ILs in biorefinery applications. In view of this, this paper is the first to report a preliminary study on the use of inexpensive and bifunctional triethylammonium hydrogen sulfate ionic liquid, [N2220][HSO4] IL, in deconstructing two Malaysian agro-wastes, oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) and coconut husk. The [N2220][HSO4] IL was synthesised via simple acid-base neutralisation route between two inexpensive precursors: sulfuric acid, H2SO4, and triethylamine, N222. The results of deconstruction of OPEFB and coconut husk under the applied conditions, IL/H2O (80/20 wt/wt) at 120�C for 2 h, proved that the IL provided bifunctional action as: a Br�nsted acid catalyst that hydrolysed chemical bonds linking carbohydrate-rich-material (cellulose and hemicellulose) and lignin fractions, and; a delignification agent that dissolved lignin, separating the biopolymer from the carbohydrate-rich-material. The outcomes of this study indicate that the deconstruction of Malaysian agro-wastes for isolating valuable biopolymers can be performed in a more economical and effective way using the [N2220][HSO4] IL.