Abstract

Poh Lee Loh, Nur Hasyareeda Hassan* and Muhammad Rahimi Yusop

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/ojc/300411

The aim of this study is to investigate ionic liquids (ILs) pretreatment on kempas composition, structure and enzymatic digestibility. Ground kempas (Koompassia malaccensis) was pretreated with 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([Bmim][OAc]), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Bmim]Cl) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethansulfonate ([Bmim][OTf]), at 120  for 6 and 12 h. The cell wall composition and structure of the kempas before and after the ILs pretreatment were observed and characterized using FESEM, ATR FT-IR and XRD. After the pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis was carried out to identify the reducing sugars yields using DNS method. Overall, DNS assay showed that the reducing sugars yields of [Bmim][OAc]-pretreated kempas with 6 h and 12 h pretreatment were highest among the ILs regenerated cellulose which are in agreement with the findings of FESEM, ATR FT-IR and XRD. Therefore, shorter-time IL pretreatment is more applicable in this study and kempas is potential be used for biofuel production.

Kempas; ionic liquids; pretreatment

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