Copyright (c) 2025 Documentos de Trabajo ECBTI
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Preliminary study on the three-stage fractionation of banana pseudo-stem (dominico hartón): alkaline hydrogen peroxide pretreatment and partial results on fraction recovery
The 21st century faces the dual challenge of resource depletion and environmental degradation, driven by population growth and industrial expansion. Meeting the increasing demand for raw materials requires a transition to renewable and sustainable alternatives. Lignocellulosic biomass—particularly agricultural residues traditionally regarded as waste—represents a valuable feedstock for bio-based products and clean energy. Within a biorefinery framework, the structural components of lignocellulose (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin) can be fractionated and transformed into high value–added materials such as nanocellulose, bio-based polymers, food additives, adhesives, and even carbon fibers. This working paper presents a preliminary study on the three-stage fractionation of banana pseudo-stem (Dominico Hartón), an abundant agro-industrial by-product, using alkaline hydrogen peroxide (AHP) pretreatment. The process was assessed through eight experimental pretreatments (PT1–PT8), in which the biomass was treated with 10–20% (w/w) H₂O₂ at pH 11.5 (adjusted with NaOH) under an 8% (w/v) solid loading. Ultrasonic irradiation (60–120 min, 25 °C) enhanced delignification efficiency. The treatment yielded a cellulose-enriched solid (up to 85%) and a liquor rich in hemicelluloses and lignins, which were subsequently recovered as high–value solid fractions.
