Characterization by Fast-GC x GC/TOFMS of the Acidic/Basic/ Neutral Fractions of Bio-Oils from Fast Pyrolysis of Green Coconut Fibers

ABSTRACT: Green coconut (Cocos nucifera L. var. dwarf) is one of the most cultivated commodities on the Brazilian coast. Most green coconut waste is burned or disposed of as garbage on coconutproducing properties, on the streets of large cities, and in landfills. Incorrect disposal of coconut waste causes several problems as proliferation of disease vectors, occupation of large areas in landfills, production of gases, and contamination of soil and groundwater. The conversion of this biomass can be carried out through pyrolysis. The bio-oil from the pyrolytic process has a complex chromatographic profile requiring a fractionation step to improve its separation and characterization. In this work, the bio-oil was fractionated according to its acidity (strongly acidic, slightly acidic, basic, and neutral), and both the bio-oil and the fractions were analyzed by fast-GC x GC/TOFMS. The fractionation process used was able to reduce the complexity of the generated crude bio-oil. Three hundred and five different compounds were identified between the fractions analyzed and the crude bio-oil. The time for each analysis was 19 min, demonstrating the gain of the separation/detection technique without losing quality in the identification. The majority of the compounds in the fractions were phenol, catechols, eugenols, and furfural, reinforcing the idea of using this bio-oil as a precursor in the chemical industry.

Automated summary

Improper disposal of green coconut waste leads to various problems, but it can be converted into bio-oil through pyrolysis. Fractionation of the bio-oil reduces its complexity, and analysis identified 305 different compounds. The use of separation/detection techniques improved the quality of identification.