Effects of ultrasonic-assisted alkaline pretreatment on xylose production from pineapple peel waste

Abstract

The pineapple industry generates large amounts of unusable waste (peel and core) with adverse environmental impacts. This experimental study aims to systemize the potential of ultrasonic-assisted alkaline pretreatment for xylose production from pineapple peel waste. The best condition for single alkaline pretreatment (1 % NaOH w/v, 100 °C, 60 min) has obtained hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin composition at 34.80 %, 32.16 %, and 8.66 %, respectively, retained in the biomass. Meanwhile, a combination of alkaline (1 % NaOH, w/v) and ultrasonic (frequency 40 kHz, 45 min) pretreatment has obtained the percentage yield of hemicellulose and lignin at 51.15 % and 7.15 %, respectively. Both single alkaline and ultrasonic-assisted alkaline pretreated samples were subsequently hydrolyzed with 2 % H₂SO₄ (w/v). After acid hydrolysis for 30 min, the maximum xylose concentration of 48.85 g.L^-1 was achieved by using ultrasonic-assisted alkaline pretreatment, while single alkaline pretreatment contributed to the lowest yield of xylose (37.11 g.L^-1). It is shown that the ultrasonic-assisted alkaline treatment is more favorable than single alkaline pretreatment as it can produce high xylose concentration after the subsequent hydrolysis. These results indicated that ultrasonic-assisted alkaline pretreatment and its subsequent acid hydrolysis were appropriate for producing xylose from pineapple peel waste.