Chemical Composition of Palm Fiber and Its Feasibility as Cellulosic Raw Material for Sugar Production

Abstract

The chemical composition of palm fiber, a lignocellulosic waste ejected from the palm oil industry, was analyzed. The fiber consisted of holocellulose (59.6%), lignin (28.5%), lipid (1.9%), protein (3.6%), ash (5.6%), and others (0.8%). Delignified fiber was digested very well by the cellulase from Trichoderma viride and the degree of digestion reached over 90% of the total carbohydrate in the original sample. Also xylose was produced from hemicellulose units by hydrolysis with 5.0% sulfuric acid at 100°C for 60min.