Optimizing furfural production from tropical almond fruit seedcake via acid-catalyzed hydrolysis and dehydration: Sustainable valorization of agrowaste

Utilizing renewable biological resources (biomass) to produce energy and biochemicals is increasingly ratified and recognized as a sustainable strategy in agrowaste valorization. This study focuses on the conversion of tropical almond fruit seedcake into furfural, a valuable bio-based chemical. Furfural production was achieved through acid-catalyzed hydrolysis and dehydration processes, with optimization conducted using response surface methodology. An optimal conditions for furfural yield were determined to be 160 °C reaction temperature, 53.82 minutes reaction time, and 7.50% acid concentration, resulting in a maximum yield of 75.50%. Characterization of the obtained furfural was performed using Fourier-transform infrared and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) spectroscopic techniques, revealing the presence of the conjugated carbonyl (C = O) group at 1,669 cm<sup>-1</sup> and aldehyde functionality at 3,134 cm<sup>-1</sup> and 2,812 cm<sup>-1</sup>. GC-MS confirmed the molecular weight (96.10 g/mol) and empirical formula (C<sub>5</sub>H<sub>4</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) of the furfural product. This research highlights the potential of tropical almond fruit seedcake as a sustainable feedstock for furfural production, contributing to the advancement of biomass conversion technologies.