Ionic Liquid Pretreatment of Coconut Waste

Date:12 April 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Application

• Conversion of coconut waste into valuable biofuels and chemicals through efficient biomass fractionation.
• Production of high-quality lignin-based materials, such as carbon fibers and activated carbons.

Description

This study investigates the pretreatment of coconut husks and shells, which are lignin-rich agricultural residues, using a low-cost protic ionic liquid, [DMBA][HSO4]. The pretreatment, performed at 150–170 °C for varying times, effectively removed up to 82 wt% of lignin, leaving cellulose-rich pulps. The pretreated materials showed high enzymatic glucose release, demonstrating the efficacy of [DMBA][HSO4] for fractionating lignin from biomass. This process offers a promising, cost-effective method for valorizing coconut biomass into biofuels and value-added products.

 

 

Pathway Description:

The project used IonoSolv pretreatment with the ionic liquid [DMBA][HSO4] to fractionate lignin-rich coconut husks and shells. The biomass was treated at 150°C or 170°C for varying durations, dissolving lignin while leaving cellulose-rich pulp. Lignin was recovered by adding water to the ionic liquid, causing precipitation. The effectiveness of the process was evaluated by analyzing lignin removal and glucose yield.