Near-Infrared Spectroscopy applied to rapid low cost characterization of Cocos Nucifera L. waste and its biotechnological potential for ethanol production
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Abstract
Background: This study investigates the application of NIRS for rapid low cost characterization of coconut husk dust and evaluates the potential of this lignocellulosic material for bioethanol production upon various pretreatments. Coconut husk dust was subjected to pretreatments with diluted acid and alkaline solutions in order to investigate modifications in morphology, chemical composition and crystallinity index. Also, the influence of these properties upon enzymatic hydrolysis and theoretical ethanol yields was investigated. Changes in lignin and hemicellulose contents as well as amorphous and crystalline cellulose were characterized using traditional methods, such as Scanning Electron Microscopy, wet chemical analysis and X-ray diffraction and using an alternative method using NIRS; satisfactory results were obtained.
Results: The techniques applied were an efficient approach to understand the pretreatments effects on enhancing enzymatic hydrolysis and ethanol yields. Diluted phosphoric acid pretreatment was the most efficient for the production of bioethanol, with 39.16% of enzymatic hydrolysis yield and 83.68 L/t of theoretical ethanol yield. Conclusion: These results reinforce the effectiveness of the technique in the qualitative characterization of lignocellulosic materials, establishing it as a promising strategy for industrial quality control. However, its large-scale application requires the development of more comprehensive databases capable of ensuring greater analytical robustness and reliability.
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