Open AccessResponse surface methodology optimization study on corncob pretreatment: reduction of sodium hydroxide usage and enhancement in pulpzyme HC biobleaching efficiency
Author(s) -
Teck Kim Tang,
Yee Ying Lee,
EngTong Phuah,
Chin Ping Tan,
Sivaruby Kanagaratnam,
Y. Wang,
Ling Zhi Cheong,
Nurul Aini Jamalullail,
Kwai Ling Yap,
C. M. Lee,
Juan Tan,
OiMing Lai
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
food research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.218
H-Index - 7
ISSN - 2550-2166
DOI - 10.26656/fr.2017.5(2).490
Subject(s) - corncob , lignin , sodium hydroxide , hemicellulose , cellulose , chemistry , swelling , lignocellulosic biomass , response surface methodology , nuclear chemistry , materials science , chromatography , organic chemistry , raw material , composite material
Lignocellulosic rich corncob biomass possesses less complex structure, lignin andpigment content. As compared to wood pulp, it is considered to be a better alternative forthe production of cellulose fibre. The present study was conducted to optimize both thealkaline (using sodium hydroxide) and biobleaching (using Pulpzyme HC) pretreatmentprocess of corncob to promote lignin removal and cellulose swelling. It was the aim of thiswork to achieve mild processing conditions for corncob pretreatment in order to minimizethe chemical usage. Results demonstrated that the mild pretreatment approach employedwas found to successfully increase cellulose swelling and lignin removal from the corncobbiomass. In alkaline pretreatment process, reaction temperature showed to be the mostprominent effect in enhancing lignin removal and cellulose swelling as compared tosodium hydroxide concentration and reaction time. RSM optimized conditions for alkalinepretreatment process: 0.5 M NaOH, reaction temperature of 80°C and reaction time of 30mins manage to increase the sedimentation index (indicate swelling of cellulose) from 0 to30 and reduce the kappa number (represent lignin removal) from 82 to 32, respectively.Meanwhile, for biobleaching pretreatment using Pulpzyme HC, reaction time play a moresignificant role than the Pulpzyme HC concentration in promoting lignin removal andincreasing cellulose swelling. RSM optimized conditions showed that the kappa numberwas reduced from 32 to 18 whereas the sedimentation index increased from 30 to 60 whenthe alkaline pretreated corncob was biobleached with Pulpzyme HC.