Enhanced Membrane Ultrafiltration and Physicochemical Characterization of Elaeis Guineensis Biomass for Biorefinery Optimization and Viability in Biofuel_Biocompounds Production

Abstract

Effective pretreatments and fractionation methods are needful biorefining processes for optimal compositional separation of lignocellulose. Research biorefinery model encompasses the integration of hydrothermolysis pretreatment technique and membrane ultrafiltration processes. The innovativeness and research originalities were inspired by quests for transformative model, ideal for fractionation of lignocellulose. It aimed to bring about affordable clean energies that would overarch ripple effects on world’s “energy-economy”. Hydrothermolysis preceded ultrafiltration which successfully fractionated cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin. Filterability anchored on diverse molecular weight differences of constituent compounds. Permeate of 10kDa showed high yield of fructose (83.49%) alongside the traces of lignin and other sugar compounds. Superb purity of fructose (56.07%), glucose (13.99%) and sucrose (62.25%) were achieved as permeate of 5kDa which removed the remaining traces of other polymeric compounds. This forms the nexus of a novel paradigm that is capable of facilitating the global commercialization of biofuel which is significantly forward-leaning to ecosystem sustainability.

Keywords: Ultrafiltration, Fractionation, Elaeis guineensis, Compositional assessment and biorefinery optimization