Preparation of Novolak Resin by Liquefaction of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches (EFB) and Characterization of EFB Residue

Abstract

Liquefaction of empty fruit bunches (EFB) in phenol was carried out in the presence of various types of acids as catalyst. Then the nonreacted EFB (residue) was analyzed using the X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy. The result show that strong acids produce lower residue compared to weak acids. The TGA results show that the residue possesses a better hydrophobicity and better heat resistance compared to the EFB. The XRD results show the crystallinity of cellulose has been reduced tremendously in the residue reacted with sulfuric acid. The FT-IR results show that for the lowest residue, some of the functional groups belonging to the lignin structure have vanished.

Polycondensation reaction and its mechanism during lignocellulosic liquefaction by an acid catalyst: a review

“…The study of reaction mechanisms must rely on analytical chemical methods, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) or gas/liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/LC-MS). To clarify liquefaction reactions and the chemical composition of products, many investigators have studied the crystallinity, functional groups and micromorphology of the residue from lignocellulosic liquefaction using XRD (Pan et al, 2007;Ahmadzadeh and Zakaria, 2009), FTIR (Vázquez et al, 1997;Schwanninger et al, 2004;Zou et al, 2009) and SEM (Pan et al, 2007;Ahmadzadeh and Zakaria, 2009;Nasar et al, 2010). As well, the molecular weight and distribution, molecular structures and the amount of free phenol of liquefied products in the presence of phenols or polyhydric alcohols by acid catalysts, were studied using GPC (Deng et al, 2008), GC/LC-MS (Basaran et al, 2003;Zhang et al, 2007;Soria et al, 2008), NMR (Lee and Ohkita, 2004;Lin et al, 2004) and HPLC (Lin et al, 2001a, b;Inoue et al, 2004;Zhang et al, 2005;Zhang et al, 2007).…”

Evaluation of Cd(II) Ion Removal from Aqueous Solution by a Low-Cost Adsorbent Prepared from White Yam (Dioscorea rotundata) Waste Using Batch Sorption

“…This peak is broad due to the complex vibrational modes arising from a mixture of stretching vibrational bands of -OH groups in hydrogen bonded and chemisorbed water as well as the inter and intramolecular hydrogen bonding vibrations [94,107]. The peak at 2937 cm −1 can be attributed to the symmetric or asymmetric stretching vibrations of the CH 2 and CH 3 groups of side chains and aromatic methoxy groups in the different lignocellulosic structures in the YTBS adsorbent [105,108].…”

“…These spectra show a broad peak at 3280 cm −1 which is assigned to the (O-H) stretching vibration in hydroxyl groups (commonly appearing between 3550 cm −1 and 3200 cm −1 ) [62]. The groups with this functionality found in the lignocellulosic structure of the YTBS are as follows: absorbed water, aliphatic primary and secondary alcohols found in cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, extractives, phenols with intermolecular hydrogen bonds, and carboxylic acid groups in the extractives [105,106]. This peak is broad due to the complex vibrational modes arising from a mixture of stretching vibrational bands of -OH groups in hydrogen bonded and chemisorbed water as well as the inter and intramolecular hydrogen bonding vibrations [94,107].…”

An overview of the oil palm industry in Malaysia and its waste utilization through thermochemical conversion, specifically via liquefaction

“…However, in recent years there has been an increasing amount of literatures on the potential of liquefied biomass to be used in particular application such as novolak type resins [148], bio-oil [149] and valuable chemicals [150]. Previous studies proved that oil palm biomass wastes, like other lignocellulosic material are suitable to be converted through liquefaction mechanism.…”

“…Ahmadzadeh and Zakaria [148] carried out a study on the characterization of the liquefied EFB yield in phenol in a reflux condenser system and properties of phenolated EFB resin. They found that high temperature and high catalyst concentrations produced higher liquefaction yields.…”