Browsing by Author "Getahun Getachew"

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    Zr-BDC MOF as a Sustainable Catalyst for Efficient Hydrolysis of Lignocellulosic Biomass
    (Addis Ababa University, 2023-12) Getahun Getachew; Ahmed Hussen; Abi Tadesse
    Lignocellulosic biomass, such as plant matter and agricultural residues, is a major source of renewable organic carbon on our planet. Of this lignocellulose, 40–50% is composed of cellulose that serves as a valuable feedstock for the production of fuels, chemicals, and various industrial applications. Cellulose can be converted into glucose through a process called hydrolysis. The hydrolysis of cellulose using homogenous acids is known to have drawbacks due to the generation of a large amount of toxic and corrosive wastes, making the use of heterogeneous catalysts like metal organic frameworks (MOFs) crucial for eco-friendly cellulose conversion. In this study, Zr-BDC MOF was synthesized sustainably using water as the sole green solvent, at room temperature, and without modulation. The as-synthesized Zr-BDC MOF exhibited a semi-crystalline structure with desirable properties such as a specific surface area of 380.367 m2/g, a pore volume of 0.55cm3 and a pore radius of 13.24 Å. The evaluation of this MOF as a solid-acid catalyst for the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomasses, specially Sugarcane bagasse and Pineapple peels was conducted for the first time in this study. Under optimum conditions, a mixture of 4 g biomass (Sugarcane bagasse or Pineapple peels) and 0.8 g Zr-BDC MOF in 100 mL distilled water was hydrolyzed at 130 oC for 4 h. The hydrolysis process yielded 0.60 mg/mL and 2.044 mg/mL of total reducing sugar (TRS), mainly glucose, from the hydrolysis of Sugarcane bagasse and Pineapple peels, respectively. These promising results demonstrated the potential of Zr-BDC MOF as an alternative catalyst for the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass, enabling the conversion of cellulose to glucose for bioethanol production. The use of Zr-BDC MOF offers economic feasibility and environmental friendliness, addressing the challenges associated with homogeneous acid hydrolysis. Furthermore, this study can serve as a benchmark for future research on catalytic application of MOFs in biomass conversion to glucose for bioethanol production.