Conclusions
OPF is a highly available biomass (largest oil palm biomass; 70% equivalent to 250 MMT per annum) with a high carbohydrate content that can be used as a cheap and sustainable carbon source in biochemical industries. OPF is one of the largest biomass available in the world (after corn stover, rice straw and wheat straw) especially in South-East Asia region which can be obtained at the lowest cost of 19.4 $ per tonne. Mass balance calculation showed that 34.6 MMT per annum of structural carbohydrate and 2 million metric tonnes per annum of readily fermentable sugars could be obtained from oil palm fronds juice. Fermentability test of OPF juice by A. succinogenes 130Z gave a final concentration of succinic acid up to 21 g/L and 73% g/g of sugar consumed. Succinate production had increased proportionately with the increase in carbonate loading (CO2 supplier) until a maximum carbonate loading was reached at 400 mmol/L. The suppression of CO2 producing metabolic pathway had led to a higher production of succinic acid and lower byproducts formation. Future study will be focused more on the efficiency of CO2 consumption and the integration of biogas production with succinate production