Challenges and opportunities of green chemistry concepts in the Synthesis of Sodium Lignosulfonate (SLS) surfactant

Green chemical is the designing of products and processes that minimize the use and generation of hazardous substances. Synthesis of Sodium Lignosulfonate (SLS) Surfactant can be processed from bagasse, waste of sugar cane. The aim of this study was to show that sodium lignosulfonate surfactant (SLS) can be made from bagasse using the Microwave-Assisted Organic Synthesis (MAOS) with the concept of green chemistry. Bagasse processing becomes SLS with hydrolysis and sulfonation process using microwave radiation. The process is closed system, for 1 hour, with a microwave power of 300 watts at 80oC. The process is using Microwave Assisted Organic Synthesis (MAOS) which is equipped with chemical flask and condenser. Reagents are used in small concentrations, 2% NaOH and 0.1 M sodium bisulfite. The result of synthesized SLS from bagasse is brown powder. The synthesized SLS product using Green Chemical concepts has been tested with Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR) consisting of Alkene, Sulfonate, Carboxylic Acids and Ester. This composition is similar to the composition of the commercial SLS standard which petroleum based, using as surfactant injection in the EOR process. The Green Chemical concept has the challenge and opportunity of synthesizing Sodium Lignosulfonate Surfactant using Microwave Assisted Organic Synthesis.