Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences, Vol 27 No 3 (2023): 471 - 487

 

POTENTIAL OF LIGNIN FROM OIL PALM BIOMASS USING DEEP EUTECTIC SOLVENT AS CARBON FIBRE PRECURSOR

 

(Potensi Lignin daripada Biojisim Kelapa Sawit Menggunakan Pelarut Eutektik

Dalam sebagai Prekursor Gentian Karbon)

 

Afiqah Liana Sazali, Siti Khadijah Amran, Khairul Faizal Pa’ee, Mohd Razealy Anuar,

and Tau-Len Kelly Yong

 

Universiti Kuala Lumpur,

Branch Campus Malaysian Institute of Chemical and Engineering Technology,

Lot 1988 Kawasan Perindustrian Bandar Vendor, Taboh Naning,

78000 Alor Gajah, Melaka, Malaysia

 

*Corresponding author: kytlen@unikl.edu.my

 

 

Received: 14 September 2022; Accepted: 1 April 2023; Published:  23 June 2023

 

 

Abstract

The modern composites industry heavily relies on carbon fibre as a raw material due to its high tensile strength, fatigue resistance, and temperature resistance. Thus, researchers are investigating the use of lignin extracted from biomass as a precursor for carbon fibre to reduce costs and environmental impact. Oil palm biomass is classified as a lignocellulosic compound due to its high cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin content. Since lignin has a complex structure with numerous linkages between its monomeric components, it can be complicated to isolate it from lignocellulosic components. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are a promising new class of environmentally friendly solvents owing to their low toxicity, low production cost, and high biodegradability. Lignin valorisation has received much attention due to immense ability of DES to dissolve and extract lignin without condensation. This review aimed to provide a comprehensive and comparative analysis of the physicochemical and thermal properties of DES for utilisation in lignin extraction from biomass, with a focus on its potential as a precursor for carbon fibre.

 

Keywords: deep eutectic solvent, carbon fibre, lignin, precursor, oil palm biomass

 

Abstrak

Industri komposit moden sangat bergantung pada gentian karbon sebagai bahan mentah kerana kekuatan tegangan yang tinggi, rintangan kelesuan dan rintangan suhu. Oleh itu, penyelidik sedang mengkaji penggunaan lignin daripada biojisim sebagai prekursor yang lebih mesra alam dan kos efektif untuk gentian karbon. Biojisim kelapa sawit dikategorikan sebagai lignoselulosa, kerana kandungan selulosa, hemiselulosa dan lignin yang tinggi. Walau bagaimanapun, mengasingkan lignin daripada lignoselulosa memberikan cabaran kerana strukturnya yang rumit dan mempunyai pelbagai sambungan antara komponen monomeriknya. Pelarut Eutektik Dalam (DES) ialah generasi baharu pelarut hijau yang mudah disediakan, tinggi biodegrabiliti, kos pembuatan yang rendah dan ketoksikan yang rendah. Keupayaan DES yang luar biasa untuk melarutkan dan mengekstrak lignin tanpa pemeluwapan telah mencetuskan minat yang ketara dalam valorisasi lignin. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis secara sistematik dan perbandingan sifat fizikokimia dan terma DES untuk pengekstrakan lignin daripada biojisim, dengan penekanan khusus pada penggunaannya sebagai prekursor untuk gentian karbon.

 

Kata kunci: pelarut eutektik dalam, gentian karbon, lignin, prekursor, biojisim kelapa sawit

 

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