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Journal of Wood Science

Official Journal of the Japan Wood Research Society

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Fractionation and characterization of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) as treated by supercritical water

Journal of Wood Science volume 56, pages 488–494 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

In order to investigate the potential for efficient utilization of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis), supercritical water treatment (at 380°C and 100 MPa for 8 s) was applied to fractionate extractives-free samples into water-soluble portion and water-insoluble portion. The water-insoluble portion was further fractionated into methanol-soluble portion and methanol-insoluble residue. Samples were prepared from various parts of oil palm, i.e., trunks, fronds, mesocarp fibers, shells, empty fruit bunches, and kernel cake. These fractionated products were then characterized analytically. The water-soluble and methanol-soluble portions were determined to be mainly composed of carbohydrate-derived products and lignin-derived products, respectively. The methanol-insoluble residue was mainly composed of lignin (more than 84 wt%) and the phenolic hydroxyl contents determined by the aminolysis method was higher than for untreated oil palm samples. In addition, an alkaline nitrobenzene oxidation analysis indicated that the methanol-insoluble residue contained fewer oxidation products than untreated samples did. These findings imply that the water-soluble portion could be utilized for organic acid production, whereas the methanol-soluble portion and the insoluble residue could be used for the production of phenolic chemicals.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Energy Ecosystems, Department of Socio-Environmental Energy Science, Graduate School of Energy Science, Kyoto University, Yoshida-honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan

    Mahendra Varman, Hisashi Miyafuji & Shiro Saka

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  1. Mahendra Varman
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  2. Hisashi Miyafuji
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  3. Shiro Saka
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Correspondence to Shiro Saka.

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Varman, M., Miyafuji, H. & Saka, S. Fractionation and characterization of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) as treated by supercritical water. J Wood Sci 56, 488–494 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10086-010-1124-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10086-010-1124-3

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