Investigation of the Effects of Ionic Liquids Pretreatments and Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Kempas, Koompassia malaccensis

The aim of this study is to investigate ionic liquids (ILs) pretreatment on kempas composition, structure and enzymatic digestibility. Ground kempas (Koompassia malaccensis) was pretreated with 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([Bmim][OAc]), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Bmim]Cl) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethansulfonate ([Bmim][OTf]), at 120°C for 6 and 12 h. The cell wall composition and structure of the kempas before and after the ILs pretreatment were observed and characterized using FESEM, ATR FT-IR and XRD. After the pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis was carried out to identify the reducing sugars yields using DNS method. Overall, DNS assay showed that the reducing sugars yields of [Bmim][OAc]pretreated kempas with 6 h and 12 h pretreatment were highest among the ILs regenerated cellulose which are in agreement with the findings of FESEM, ATR FT-IR and XRD. Therefore, shorter-time IL pretreatment is more applicable in this study and kempas is potential be used for biofuel production.