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Production of Biofuels and Biomaterials from Coconut Shells

Date:12 April 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Plant Name:

    Coconut

Residue Name:

    Shells/Husk

End Products

Biomaterials

Carbon fibers

Fuel

Biofuel

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.

 

 

Source: Know More...

Tags: Ionic Liquid PretreatmentSustainable Biomass ProcessingBiofuel Production

End Products

Biomaterials

Carbon fibers

Fuel

Biofuel

Feedstock

Types of Feedstock

Primary Agricultural Residue

Name

Coconut Shell

Form

Solid biomass

Commercials

Cost-effective; utilized for carbon materials; commercial demand in industrial applications

Logistics

Requires collection from coconut processing sites

Characteristics

Highly porous structure

Pathways

Pretreatment

IonoSolv

Thermal

Fractionation