Reducing sugar production from oil palm fronds and rice straw by acid hydrolysis

Process to determine concentration of reducing sugar from oil palm fronds and rice straw has been developed. Reducing sugar of oil palm fronds and rice straw were determined to compare the hydrolysis conditions on the different temperature, acid concentrations and time. In this study, oil palm fronds and rice straw was pre-treated with 2M NaOH. Alkali treated material was then hydrolyzed with 1.0, 5.0 and 10.0 % (v/v) sulfuric acid at 111°C and 121°C for 15 minutes and 30 minutes. The results showed that the maximum reducing sugar concentration of oil palm fronds (81.11 ug/ml) was obtained at 121°C for 30 min with sulfuric acid concentration of 10.0 % (v/v), whereas the maximum reducing sugar of rice straw (78.80 ug/ml) was obtained at 111°C for 30 min with sulfuric acid concentration of 1.0 % (v/v). In comparison, rice straw showed high reducing sugar concentration at low concentration of sulfuric acid but at high temperature. In contrast, oil palm fronds showed high reducing sugar concentration at high concentration of sulfuric acid but at low temperature.