Sustainable and Efficient Extraction of Furfural from Bagasse: A Quantitative Analysis and Feasibility Study for Rural Economies

Abstract

Furfural, a valuable platform chemical produced from lignocellulosic biomass, has a wide range of commercial applications, including biofuels, polymers, and medicines. Sugarcane bagasse, an abundant agricultural waste, is a viable feedstock for furfural production because of its high cellulose and hemicellulose content. This study investigated the optimization of furfural extraction using sugarcane bagasse collected from sugar mills in Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan. The extraction process used sulfuric acid hydrolysis with sodium chloride followed by distillation. Furfural yield was determined colorimetrically and verified by UV, FTIR, and NMR spectroscopy. The findings showed that furfural yields ranged from 7.5% to 10%, with a particular sample yielding the maximum amount. Economic feasibility was also determined by calculating the costs of raw materials, labor, and equipment. This study suggests that sugarcane bagasse from the region offers a sustainable and cost-effective feedstock for furfural production, contributing to rural economic development while reducing the environmental impact through green chemical techniques.

Keywords: Furfural Extraction, Sugarcane Bagasse, Lignocellulosic Biomass, Green Chemistry, Economic Feasibility.