Efficient hydrolysis of Babool wood (Acacia nilotica) to total reducing sugars using acid/ionic liquid combination catalyzed by modified activated carbon

This study aims to examine the potential of Babool wood (Acacia nilotica) as an alternative and sustainable resource to produce value added chemicals and/or useful intermediates like sugars. The performance of Babool wood digestability and hydrolysis to sugars was compared using three acids: H2SO4/H3PO4/HCl and ionic liquid [Bmim] Cl catalyzed by modified activated carbon. Hydrolysis using sulphuric acid treated Babool wood leads to the formation of total reducing sugar (TRS) ranging from 53.34% to 83.67% yield under different conditions. Babool wood treated with acid was characterized using Fourier Transformation Infrared Spectroscopy, X- Ray Diffraction and Lignocellulosic compositional analysis. Further, the effect of process variables such as acid strength, acid concentration, acid to Babool wood ratio, Babool wood particle size, hydrolysis time, and temperature on the TRS yield was explored. Maximum TRS yield was observed to be 83.67% in a reaction time of 60 min using −80 + 100 mesh of Babool wood at 393 K. Kinetic results were successfully simulated with literature model (R2 > 0.9) for rate of formation of sugar. This study provides a single step approach for Babool wood hydrolysis to sugars.