Heriyanti Heriyanti, Misri Gozan, Tania Surya Utami, Efri Mardawati, Sri Suhartini, Kasbawati Kasbawati, Muhammad Adly Rahandi Lubis, Petar Yordanov Antov
This study investigates dimethyl carbonate (DMC) as a polar aprotic cosolvent in the direct ethanolysis of oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) to produce ethyl levulinate. Among several tested cosolvents, DMC significantly improved selectivity and suppressed humin formation, thereby increasing ethyl levulinate yield from 18.69% to 24.49% under relatively mild conditions (140°C, 90 min). Product characterization by GC–MS and FTIR revealed the formation of furan-derived intermediates and humin-type polymers, supporting a reaction network involving hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and ethoxymethylfurfural (EMF) intermediates. The results suggest that DMC modifies the reaction microenvironment by regulating solvent polarity and water activity, thereby stabilizing reactive intermediates and redirecting carbon flow toward levulinate esters. This work provides useful insights into solvent-engineering strategies for the selective conversion of lignocellulosic biomass. Copyright © 2026 Heriyanti Heriyanti et al. International Journal of Chemical Engineering published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia, Kampus Baru UI, Depok, 16424, Indonesia; Industrial Chemistry Study Program, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Jambi, Jambi, 36361, Indonesia; Research Centre for Biomass Valorization, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia, Kampus Baru UI, Depok, 16424, Indonesia; Department of Agro-Industrial Technology, Universitas Padjadjaran, Jatinangor, 40600, Indonesia; Department of Agricultural Industry Technology, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, University of Brawijaya, Malang, 64145, Indonesia; Department of Mathematics, Applied Mathematics Laboratory, Hasanuddin University, Sulawesi, Makassar, Indonesia; Research Center for Biomass and Bioproducts, National Research and Innovation Agency, West Java, Cibinong, 16911, Indonesia; Faculty of Forest Industry, University of Forestry, Sofia, 1797, Bulgaria
