Optimization of Levulinic Acid Production from Depithed Sugarcane Bagasse in 1- Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfa
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ORIGINAL PAPER
Optimization of Levulinic Acid Production from Depithed Sugarcane Bagasse in 1‑ Ethyl‑3‑methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate [EMim] [HSO4] Lethiwe Debra Mthembu1 · David Lokhat2 · Rishi Gupta3 · Nirmala Deenadayalu1 Received: 28 October 2019 / Accepted: 3 September 2020 © Springer Nature B.V. 2020
Abstract In the present study, optimal reaction conditions to produce levulinic acid (LA) from depithed sugarcane bagasse (DSB) using 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate [EMim][HSO4] ionic liquid (IL) were investigated. The effect of temperature (100–220 °C), reaction time (2–12 h), and ionic liquid loading (1–4 g) was assessed using response surface methodology based on the Box-Behnken design. The optimum conditions were found to be 100 °C, 7 h, and 4 g of IL, which yielded 54.6% of LA from DSB. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that the design model was significant at the 95% confidence level. The pareto chart revealed that IL loading had the most significant effect on the production of LA, followed by temperature and reaction time. The P-values also showed that these were the significant model terms. There is a strong correlation between temperature and IL loading. Solvent optimization revealed that the type of solvent used in the LA production has a significant effect on LA yield. Water was used as the control solvent for this study. Methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) yielded the highest LA (62%) from all the solvents that were used. Graphic Abstract
Keywords Valorization · Value-added products · Depithed sugarcane bagasse · Levulinic acid · Ionic liquids · Optimization
* Lethiwe Debra Mthembu [email protected] Extended author information available on the last page of the article
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Statement of Novelty This study reports on the first-time application of the ionic liquid ( [EMim][HSO4]) to produce levulinic acid from depithed sugarcane bagasse (DSB). The reduction in the limitations (extensive water usage, cumbersome acid recovery, production of humins) of the commercial production of LA (Biofine process) was also investigated. The experiments were one-pot reactions which are energy-efficient with less water consumption. The amount of catalyst required was reduced since [EMim][HSO4] was re-used five times with only a 15% loss in LA produced. DSB was obtained from South African (KwaZulu-Natal) sugar mills where there is an excess of sugarcane bagasse after its use in paper and tissue production and in-house power generation. Levulinic acid is highly reactive and is used in the production of important LA derivatives.
Introduction In South Africa, the sugar industry is experiencing significant challenges due to factors such as: low international sugar prices, greater sugar imports, higher agricultural input costs, older facilities, and the recent sugar tax law. These difficulties could lead to further closure of sugar mills [1, 2]. However, an integrated biorefinery approach in sugar industries may be a potential solution. Approximately 500 million wet
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