Autosystem xl

In order to determine the composition in terms of neutral monosaccharides, the polysaccharide fraction was hydrolysed with 2 M trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) at 125°C for 1 h and the monosaccharides obtained were derivatised to alditol acetates [22 ]. The products were separated by gas–liquid chromatography (GLC) on a Perkin-Elmer Autosystem XL gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionisation detector, an SP2330 capillary column (Supelco, 30 m), using He as carrier gas. The temperature program applied was 200–245°C at 4°C/min. Identification of the monosaccharides in Tramesan was achieved by comparing the retention times of each peak with those of standard sugars, previously derivatized in the same way. Quantification was obtained using inositol as internal standard.

An investigation of the gaseous products from torrefaction of bagasse was undertaken in order to determine the composition and yield of the products at a torrefaction reaction temperature of 300 °C. This is necessary to compare the composition of the gaseous products generated during torrefaction of SCB with those produced during its gasification.
The non-condensable gases produced from torrefaction of bagasse were analysed by a Perkin Elmer Autosystem XL gas chromatographic (GC) instrument (Perkin Elmer, New York, NY, USA). Argon was used as a carrier gas at a flow rate of 35 mL·min⁻¹, with gas composition analysis carried out using mixed standard gas as an external standard.

SCFA (acetate, propionate, and butyrate) content was determined by gas chromatography (Nelson 1020, Perkin-Elmer, St Quentin en Yvelines, France). The samples were extracted with water (wt g/vol), centrifuged at 17,000 × g for 10 min, and the supernatant collected. The proteins were precipitated using a phosphotungstic acid saturated solution. A volume of 0.1 mL of the supernatant was analyzed using a gas–liquid chromatograph (Autosystem XL; Perkin Elmer, Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France). All samples were analyzed in duplicate. The data was collected and peaks integrated using Turbochromv6 software (Perkin Elmer, Courtaboeuf, France).

Anethole used for the study was obtained from a commercial anise fruit essential oil (Pollena-Aroma, Warsaw, Poland) using flash chromatographic separation on a silica gel column eluted with hexane and mixtures of hexane and diethyl ether (increasing polarity). Separation was monitored using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS), and the purity of the obtained compound reached 99 %. GC and GC–MS were performed on a Perkin–Elmer AutoSystem XL equipped with a Perkin–Elmer TurboMass detector and a Perkin–Elmer Elite 5MS column, 30 m × 250 µm I.D., 1 µm film thickness. Identification was carried out on the basis of comparing the mass spectrum of the compound with the mass spectrum listed by the NIST MS Library.

The biodiesel feedstock, palm oil and Jatropha oil were purchased from local market and Bionas Sdn. Bhd., respectively. Physicochemical properties of both palm and Jatropha oil were shown in Table 4. Catalytic activity was evaluated by performing transesterification reaction in a batch reflux-reactor, which palm or Jatropha oil was mixed with methanol and synthesized solid base catalyst. The mixture was added into round-bottom flask equipped with a reflux condenser and heated at 65°C under constant stirring speed at 800 rpm. Investigation on effect of reaction time (2–6 h) and catalyst amount (1–5 wt.%) was investigated in order to achieve optimum biodiesel yield. Upon the completion of reaction, the product was cooled to ambient temperature and the catalyst was separated thru centrifugation. The excessive methanol was removed using rotary evaporator. Reaction product was then poured into a separation funnel and left overnight for separation with upper layer as biodiesel and glycerin at the bottom layer. The biodiesel product was analyzed by using a gas chromatography (PerkinElmer Autosystem XL, USA) equipped with a flame ionization detector (FID) and connected to a HP-Innowax capillary column (30 m × 0.25 mm × 0.25 μm; J & W Scientific). The content of methyl ester obtained was calculated according to European regulated procedure EN14103.

The SCFA (acetate, propionate and butyrate) levels in the culture supernatants were determined by gas chromatography (Nelson 1020, Perkin Elmer, St Quentin-en-Yvelines, France). The overnight culture was centrifuged, and the supernatant was collected. The proteins were precipitated using a saturated phosphotungstic acid solution. A volume of 0.1 mL of the supernatant was analysed using a gas–liquid chromatograph (Autosystem XL; Perkin Elmer, Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France). All the samples were analysed in duplicate. The data were collected, and the peaks were integrated using Turbochromv6 software (Perkin Elmer, Courtaboeuf, France).