Optimization of furfural production from hemicellulose extracted from delignified palm pressed fiber using a two-stage process.

This study aims to optimize the conditions for furfural production from hemicellulose extracted from delignified palm pressed fiber (dPPF) via two-stage process: acid hydrolysis followed by dehydration, using response surface methodology (RSM). The extracted hemicellulose contained 80.8% xylose. In order to convert hemicellulose to xylose in the acid hydrolysis step, there were four important parameters consisting of reaction temperature (100-150°C), sulfuric acid concentration (1-10% v/v), ratio of sulfuric acid to hemicellulose (L/S ratio) (10, 9, and 8 v/w), and reaction time (30-120min). The maximum xylose production (12.58g/L) was achieved at 125°C, 5.5% sulfuric acid, L/S ratio of 9mL/g for 30min with the determination coefficient (R(2)) value of 0.90. For the dehydration process, two parameters; reaction temperature (120-160°C) and reaction time (30-150min), were optimized. The maximum furfural production (8.67g/L) was achieved at a reaction temperature of 140°C for 90min with the determination coefficient (R(2)) value of 0.93.