Zahari, SMSNSSMSNSZahariAmin, ATMATMAminHalim, NMNMHalimRosli, FAFARosliAbd Halim, WITWITAbd HalimSamsukamal, NANASamsukamalSasithran, BBSasithranAriffin, NAZNAZAriffinAzman, HHHHAzmanHassan, NHNHHassanOthman, ZSZSOthman2024-05-292024-05-2920180094-243X10.1063/1.5041245WOS:000436350900027https://oarep.usim.edu.my/handle/123456789/11539Ionic 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, [N-2220][HSO4] IL, in deconstructing two Malaysian agro-wastes, oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) and coconut husk. The [N-2220][HSO4] IL was synthesised via simple acid-base neutralisation route between two inexpensive precursors: sulfuric acid, H2SO4, and triethylamine, N-222. The results of deconstruction of OPEFB and coconut husk under the applied conditions, IL/H2O (80/20 wt/wt) at 120 degrees C for 2 h, proved that the IL provided bifunctional action as: a Bronsted 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 [N-2220][HSO4] IL.en-USProceedings Paper1972