Essential Products of Thermal Methanolic Processing of Gmelina arborea Leaves

Abstract

In the quest to search for industrial raw materials from waste products, research was carried out on the thermal methanolysis of waste leaves of Gmelina arborea using barium chloride as a catalyst at 60^oC reaction temperature. The products were analyzed with gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). The GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of benzofuran-2-carboxaldehyde, 2,5-dimethyl 3-(H) furanone (DMHF), and 9-octadecenamide. They are significant metabolites in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. Their highest yields were 195.24 mg/g, 79.96 mg/g, and 364.76 mg/g constituting 4.94%, 1.95%, and 8.89% respectively in 20, 10, and 10 minutes of reaction times. The production of the metabolites would further add value to the Gbmelina arborea plantation.