Development of choline-based deep eutectic solvents for efficient concentrating of hemicelluloses in oil palm empty fruit bunches

Lignocelluloses complexity has led to poor dissolution efficiency in solvents. This study was conducted to concentrate hemicellulose content in oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) using green solvent, choline chloride (ChCl)-based deep eutectic solvent (DES). Results showed that ChCl: formic acid (FA) is the most effective among the DES in concentrating hemicellulose content in treated EFB and exhibits the highest dissolution power of lignin. The toxicity test showed that all the synthesized DES had negligible effect against Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium. Nevertheless, all of them possessed comparable cell proliferation to their individual counterparts, ChCl, glycerol, lactic acid (LA) and FA, which implied that these DES could be used in the intended industries.