This study aims to optimize the conditions for
furfural production from
hemicellulose extracted from delignified palm pressed fiber (dPPF) via two-stage process:
acid hydrolysis followed by
dehydration, using response surface methodology (RSM). The extracted
hemicellulose contained 80.8%
xylose. In order to convert
hemicellulose to
xylose in the
acid hydrolysis step, there were four important parameters consisting of reaction temperature (100-150°C),
sulfuric acid concentration (1-10% v/v), ratio of
sulfuric acid to
hemicellulose (L/S ratio) (10, 9, and 8 v/w), and reaction time (30-120min). The maximum
xylose production (12.58g/L) was achieved at 125°C, 5.5%
sulfuric acid, L/S ratio of 9mL/g for 30min with the determination coefficient (R(2)) value of 0.90. For the
dehydration process, two parameters; reaction temperature (120-160°C) and reaction time (30-150min), were optimized. The maximum
furfural production (8.67g/L) was achieved at a reaction temperature of 140°C for 90min with the determination coefficient (R(2)) value of 0.93.