Reaction Parameter Optimization for Sustainable Hydroxymethylfurfural Production from Tanzanian Sugarcane Bagasse

DOI: 10.22161/ijeab.114.20

Abstract:
Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is an important biomass-derived platform chemical with extensive applications in the production of biofuels, polymers, pharmaceuticals, and other value-added chemicals. The growing demand for sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based chemicals has stimulated interest in the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into HMF. In this study, the reaction parameters for the production of HMF from Tanzanian sugarcane bagasse were optimized under pressurized conditions using a high-pressure reactor. Sugarcane bagasse (25 g) was hydrolyzed under varying reaction temperatures, sulfuric acid concentrations, and reaction times. A total of 27 hydrolysis experiments were conducted in a non-stirred SS-304 pressure reactor. The hydrolysis reactions were carried out using sulfuric acid concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 M, temperatures between 180 and 200 °C, and reaction times of 10 to 20 minutes. The concentration of HMF produced under different reaction conditions was determined using UV–Visible spectrophotometry based on a calibration curve. The results demonstrated that HMF yield was significantly influenced by the interactive effects of acid concentration, reaction temperature, and reaction time. The optimum reaction conditions were found to be 1.0 M sulfuric acid, a reaction temperature of 190 °C, and a reaction time of 15 minutes, yielding a maximum HMF concentration of 4.519 mg mL⁻¹. These findings indicate that Tanzanian sugarcane bagasse is a promising low-cost and renewable feedstock for HMF production and highlight the importance of process optimization in maximizing product yield. The study contributes to the development of sustainable biorefinery technologies for the valorization of agro-industrial waste in Tanzania.

Keywords:
Biorefinery, Hydrolysis, Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), Lignocellulosic biomass, Sugarcane bagasse.

Article Info:
Received: 18 Jun 2026; Received in revised form: 14 Jul 2026; Accepted: 21 Jul 2026; Available online: 28 Jul 2026

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