Integrated biofuel production from fruit of Calophyllum inophyllum based on a concept of biorefinery

The oil extracted from the kernel of Calophyllum inophyllum had been considered as a feedstock for production of biodiesel. However, after seed collection and oil press, there are lignocellulosic byproducts leftover including pericarp and oil cake which account for more than 71% dry weight of fruit biomass. In order to make the production of biofuels from Calophyllum inophyllum economical viable, the total utilization of whole fruit biomass will be required. In this study, factorial experimental designs were conducted to investigate the effects of pretreatment condition and post reaction wash on the lignin removal and enzymatic hydrolysis of pericarp of Calophyllum inophyllum. In addition, the oil cake of Calophyllum inophyllum was subjected to solvent extraction and enzymatic hydrolysis. The results showed that the total oil yield was around 0.12 g/g dry fruit of Calophyllum inophyllum. The enzymatic hydrolysis of solvent extracted oil cake gave reducing sugar yield of 0.39 g/g dry biomass. Moreover, the sequential acid/alkaline pretreatment showed better delignification and fermentable sugar yield than alkaline only pretreatment. The fermentable sugars obtained from enzymatic hydrolysis of de-oiled cake and pericarp of Calophyllum inophyllumwere used for microbial oil and ethanol fermentable for further application of biofuel production.

Keywords: Calophyllum inophyllum, pretreatment, delignification; enzymatic hydrolysis, biomass