Microwave Assisted-Acid Hydrolysis of Jabon Kraft Pulp

In the present study, microwave assisted acid hydrolysis has been used to produce sugar from Jabon kraft pulp. The pulp behavior during hydrolysis was assessed by observing the changes of morphological characteristics and functional groups on various lignin content after beating. Pulp was hydrolyzed for 5–12.5 min at 180 °C with liquid to solid ratio of 20. The further hydrolysis has been carried out to observe the effect of temperature (180–200 °C) at the best irradiation time. The lignin content reduction and beating obviously has not changed the width and length of fibers. However, the disorganized fiber has occurred after pretreatment with higher damage intensity after beating. Even though the similarity of fiber surface changes has been discovered, some of functional groups disappeared. The reducing sugar yield of pulp with lignin content of 0% lignin content differs significantly with pulp of 4.5% lignin content (α: 0.05). Reaction temperature gives more influence in improving reducing sugar yield compared to irradiation time. Interaction between lignin content and reaction temperature influence significantly on reducing sugar yield (α: 0.05).The highest reducing sugar yield (49.2%) is found in unbeaten pulp without lignin content after being hydrolyzed at 190 °C. It indicates that lignin removal is one of the factors to improve hydrolysis performance in producing sugar.