Decomposition of lignin compounds from oil palm empty fruit bunch using ilmenite

Abstract

Decomposition of lignin compounds into monomers from oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB)has been successfully carried out. The purpose of this study was to determine the use of ilmenite as a lignin decomposerof OPEFB and to analyze the compounds produced using GC-MS method. The stages of the study consisted of preparation of ilmenite, pretreatment process of OPEFB, characterization of lignin isolates using FTIR, analysis of lignin content by UV-Vis, and photodegradation of lignin by GC-MS. Ilmenitewas known to have a potential for decomposing the lignin compound through a photodegradation reaction, in the presence of ultraviolet light. The results of this study indicated that a time of five hours decomposition could have degraded lignin up to 50%. The longer the degradation time, the more lignin was degraded to produce materials in the form of phenolic compounds, furan compounds, benzene derivatives and carbon compound derivatives from lignin monomers. One of the benzene derivatives obtained was 3,4-di (methoxycarbonyl) benzoic acid (C11H10O6).