Integrated Biorefinery Approach: The Generation of Bioproducts Vanillin and Biomethane Through a Sequential Bioconversion of Lignocellulose From Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch (OPEFB)

The efficient utilization of all of the key lignocellulosic biomass residues is important for the development of an integrated biorefineries uassing this as its feedstock. In this study, a process involving a simultaneous pre-treatement process with anaerobic digestion (AD) were implemented for processing oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) in order to produced both vanillin and methane. Before and after treatment with the dry rot fungus (Serpula lacrymans) the biomass was analyzed for total reducing sugar (TRS), total soluble phenols (TSP), pH, and weighed. Change in the physical characteristic and morphology of untreated and OPEFB following fungal culture was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The biomethane potential (BMP) of pretreated OPEFB significantly increased (62.07%) compared to untreated sample and in addition. The amount of vanillin extracted reached 3.48ug mL⁻¹_. This study therefore confirms that multiple products can effectively be isolated using a fungal preatreatment of lignocellulosic OPEFB followed by anerobic fermentation of biomass residual thus maximizing the potential returns and reducing environmentally impacts compared to other pretreatments.