Heterogeneous Reaction Model for Evaluating the Kinetics of Levulinic Acid Synthesis from Pretreated Sugarcane Bagasse

The abundance of sugarcane bagasse, a by-product juice extraction in sugar factories, serves as an advantage its potential for producing chemicals such levulinic acid (LA). Levulinic contains carbonyl and carboxyl groups that can be utilized many applications, pharmacies, cosmetics, solvents. Bagasse hydrolysis into LA was preceded by alkaline-acid pretreatment to separate cellulose from hemicellulose lignin. This treatment could minimize the disturbance these unwanted components, so synthesis would more optimal. Pretreated bagasse contained 82.64% cellulose, about two-fold non-pretreated one. It hydrolyzed with hydrochloric (HCl), which acts catalyst (a Bronsted acid), at 150-170 oC, 0.1-1 M concentration, 1-10% solid-to-liquid (cellulose:catalyst-solution) ratio, 0-200 minutes reaction time. range yield values obtained study were between 15-64.05%. maximum temperature 160 1 1% ratio. high indicates importance supported optimal conditions synthetic reaction. route involved cellulose-glucose-levoglucosan (LG)-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF)-LA. result exhibits concentration do not significantly affect yield. However, higher temperatures accelerate time achieve Meanwhile, increases lower In contrast previous studies, this evaluated model precise way using combination models, considering occurs solid liquid. heterogeneous model, namely shrinking core (SCM) conversion glucose first-order homogeneous reaction, give good fitting results. appropriate is expected basis scale-up process carried out industry one day. results research have applied various other biomass raw materials some improvements based on their characteristics studied future.