Optimisation Of Reaction Parameters For The Production Of Levulinic Acid From Tanzanian Sugarcane Bagasse

ABSTRACT

This dissertation presents the optimization of the reaction parameters for the production of levulinic acid from Tanzanian sugarcane bagasse under pressurized conditions using non- stirred pressure reactor developed in our laboratory. Sugarcane bagasse produced as a waste from the sugar industries was used in this research a raw material for the production of levulinic acid (LA). It was chosen because it is a waste from the sugar industries, non food competitive and non land competitive. The sugarcane bagasse was hydrolyzed using sulphuric acid under different concentration of the hydrolyzing acid, reaction temperature and reaction time. The sugarcane bagasse was hydrolyzed using sulphuric acid (0.25- 1.5M) at temperature ranging from 180- 2000C with reaction time ranging from 10-20 min. A non stirred stainless steel pressurized reactor was designed and used for the hydrolysis experiments. The absorbance of the levulinic acid produced at different reaction conditions was measured using UV-vis spectrophotometer and the concentration calculated using calibration graph. The results show that the yield of levulinic acid produced depends on the concentration of the hydrolyzing acid, reaction temperature and the reaction time. A maximum yield of 5.47 mg/ml of levulinic acid was obtained when the sugarcane bagasse was hydrolyzed using 1M sulphuric acid at 1900C for 15 min.