Optimizing furfural production from tropical almond fruit seedcake via acid-catalyzed hydrolysis and dehydration: Sustainable valorization of agrowaste
Ali Agaka Aremu 1 * , Moshood Abiola Haruna 2 , Aisha Hamza 3 , Abdullahi Lawal 1 , Mu’azu Ibrahim 1
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1 Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Owerri, Imo State, NIGERIA2 Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Owerri, Imo State, NIGERIA3 Department of Pure Chemistry and Environmental Chemistry, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Sokoto State, NIGERIA* Corresponding Author

Abstract

Utilizing renewable biological resources (biomass) to produce energy and biochemicals is increasingly ratified and recognized as a sustainable strategy in agrowaste valorization. This study focuses on the conversion of tropical almond fruit seedcake into furfural, a valuable bio-based chemical. Furfural production was achieved through acid-catalyzed hydrolysis and dehydration processes, with optimization conducted using response surface methodology. An optimal conditions for furfural yield were determined to be 160 °C reaction temperature, 53.82 minutes reaction time, and 7.50% acid concentration, resulting in a maximum yield of 75.50%. Characterization of the obtained furfural was performed using Fourier-transform infrared and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) spectroscopic techniques, revealing the presence of the conjugated carbonyl (C = O) group at 1,669 cm-1 and aldehyde functionality at 3,134 cm-1 and 2,812 cm-1. GC-MS confirmed the molecular weight (96.10 g/mol) and empirical formula (C5H4O2) of the furfural product. This research highlights the potential of tropical almond fruit seedcake as a sustainable feedstock for furfural production, contributing to the advancement of biomass conversion technologies.

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This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

EUR J SUSTAIN DEV RES, Volume 9, Issue 3, 2025, Article No: em0299

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejosdr/16342

Publication date: 01 Jul 2025

Online publication date: 06 May 2025

Article Views: 68

Article Downloads: 24

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