Status : Verified
| Personal Name | Magallanes, Juniper V. |
|---|---|
| Resource Title | Microwave-assisted valorization of cacao (Theobroma cacao) pod husk through cellulose extraction and low-cost acid-catalyzed hydrolysis |
| Date Issued | July 2023 |
| Abstract | Cacao (Theobroma cacao) is one of the most important high-value crops worldwide. Its beans are used for the production of chocolates and other cocoa-based products. During processing, a large amount of waste is generated which is mainly composed of the cacao pod husks (CPHs) which accounts for 60-80% of the weight of the whole fruit. Traditionally, these CPHs are viewed as waste material and are often disposed of or left to decompose which leads to environmental concerns and lost economic opportunities. In recent years, while there are notable advances in the utilization of CPHs, there remain lots of opportunities for the development of eco-friendly and low-cost production processes that will effectively convert cacao pod husks into valuable products. This study aims to present other potential applications of the CPH. It is divided into two parts: a.) extraction of cellulose from two varieties of CPH using conventional and microwave synthesis, and b.) microwave-assisted, acid-hydrolyzed, one-pot synthesis of levulinic acid from CPH biomass. Cellulose was successfully isolated from CPH through conventional heating and microwave heating method. Analysis of the functional groups present through FTIR, surface morphology through SEM imaging, and physicochemical properties of the product confirmed its cellulosic properties. Moreover, these properties are comparable to the commercial microcrystalline cellulose. For the investigation of the potential of readily available household items, environmentally-benign and low cost catalysts – KAl(SO4)2 and CH3COOH – were used for one-pot, microwave-assisted synthesis of levulinic acid from cacao pod husks without pretreatment. Result showed the potential of KAl(SO4)2 and CH3COOH to facilitate the production of levulinic acid from cacao pod husk. Characterization of the solid residue called humin from the synthesis revealed its macroporous structure that might be suitable for adsorption applications. Moreover, its heating |
| Degree Course | MS Chemical Engineering |
| Language | English |
| Keyword | cacao pod husk; microwave-assisted; cellulose; levulinic acid |
| Material Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
Preliminary Pages
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Category : I - Has patentable or registrable invention of creation.
Access Permission : Limited Access