MULTI-OBJECTIVE OPTIMIZATION OF INTEGRATED EMPTY FRUIT BUNCH BASED BIOREFINERY TOBIOCHEMICALSPRODUCTION

Empty fruit bunch (EFB) valorization to marketable chemical products poses an economically attractive and sustainable alternative to waste management in palm oil industries. Five potential high revenue biochemical products (xylitol, levulinic acid, succinic acid, guaiacol, and vanillin) are selected to be produced from EFB, wherein each chemical conversion technologies are modeled and simulated using Aspen Plus. An integrated biorefinery configuration is then designed by considering sustainability pillars; economic, environmental, and safety aspects.