Thermoanalytical and kinetic study of the valorization of phenolic derivatives from the biomass of the pseudostem of the plantain dominico-hartón (Musa AAB Simmonds)

Abstract

Colombia is a country with significant agricultural activity, which generates large amounts of waste, most of which is not utilized. In banana cultivation, only the fruit is used, accounting for about 20 % of the plant; the remaining 80 %—roots, rhizome, peels, pseudostem, leaves, rachis, and flower—is discarded. Biomass valorization methods such as Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation (cth) offer promising alternatives. However, studies on the cth of lignin from banana pseudostem integrating kinetic and thermodynamic aspects are scarce. This research evaluates the valorization of phenolic compounds derived from lignin extracted from the pseudostem of dominico-hartón banana (Musa aab Simmonds). Lignin was extracted using the astm d1106 method, which includes Soxhlet extraction with ethanol–toluene, filtration, sulfuric acid treatment, and heating. ft-ir analysis confirmed the presence of phenolic compounds, which were obtained through homogeneous cth using 50.4 mg of lignin, 4,75 mg of NiCl₂·6H₂O as catalyst precursor, and a 50 % v/v ethanol-water mixture as hydrogen donor and solvent. A central composite design was applied, with temperature (25–240 °C) and reaction time (1–8 h) as independent variables, and total phenolic compounds (tpc), measured via the Folin-Ciocalteu method, as the response. Thirteen randomized reactions were performed, with optimal conditions found at 25 °C and 4,8 h. Kinetic modeling indicated a pseudo-first-order reaction. Thermal analysis by dsc and tga showed a glass transition temperature of 150 °C, recrystallization at 455 °C (630,4 J/g°C), and melting at 718 °C (8602,42 J/g°C).