Assessment of the thermal degradation kinetics of fresh green coconut husk (Cocus nucifera L.) powder and after methyl levulinate production

Abstract This study describes the recycling of green coconut husk powder (CHP) aimed at the sustainable production of methyl levulinate. The preliminary step involved thermogravimetric analysis of green (CHP) and residues after synthesis of methyl levulinate with the catalysts aluminum sulfate (CHP-AS) and titanium dioxide (CHP-TD), based on a compositional analysis, kinetic degradation and determination of activation energy using the Ozawa-Flynn-Wall (OWF) method. Thermogravimetric analyses showed significant differences between the main constituents of CHP, CHP-AS and CHP-TD residues: hemicellulose (18.18, 9.78 and 12.17%), cellulose (44.65, 26.18 and 44.23%) and lignin (20.09, 19.89 and 19.58%), respectively. The methyl levulinate concentration obtained by the reaction between CHP and aluminum sulfate was 16.53 g.L− 1, due to the participation of hemicellulose and cellulose. The results showed that the activation energies calculated using the OFW method were 142 kJ.mol− 1 (CHP), 125 kJ.mol− 1 (CHP-AS) and 180 kJ.mol− 1 (CHP-TD).