Abstract
Oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) is considered the cheapest natural fiber with good properties and exists abundantly in Malaysia. It has great potential as an alternative main raw material to substitute woody plants. On the other hand, the well-known polymeric hydrogel has gathered a lot of interest due to its three-dimensional (3D) cross-linked network with high porosity. However, some issues regarding its performance like poor interfacial connectivity and mechanical strength have been raised, hence nanocellulose has been introduced. In this review, the plantation of oil palm in Malaysia is discussed to show the potential of OPEFB as a nanocellulose material in hydrogel production. Nanocellulose can be categorized into three nano-structured celluloses, which differ in the processing method. The most popular nanocellulose hydrogel processing methods are included in this review. The 3D printing method is taking the lead in current hydrogel production due to its high complexity and the need for hygiene products. Some of the latest advanced applications are discussed to show the high commercialization potential of nanocellulose hydrogel products. The authors also considered the challenges and future direction of nanocellulose hydrogel. OPEFB has met the requirements of the marketplace and product value chains as nanocellulose raw materials in hydrogel applications.
Highlights
Lignocellulosic biomass material (LBM) is classified as a natural, non-toxic, abundant, sustainable, and renewable material
This review describes the regenerated cellulose hydrogel from oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) for various applications that acquire additive materials with advanced properties
OPEFB resources can be considered as the cheapest raw material compared to other commercialized woody plants
Summary
Lignocellulosic biomass material (LBM) is classified as a natural, non-toxic, abundant, sustainable, and renewable material. Due to insufficient petroleum resources and the high price of wood as the main raw material, LBM is a suitable alternative in producing regenerated cellulose products. Extensive research on the modification of hydrogels has been undertaken by using natural polymers such as cellulose (polysaccharides), which is biodegradable, has good biocompatibility, is renewable, and non-toxic They have inferior mechanical properties compared to petroleum-based hydrogels. This review briefly discusses upgraded hydrogels for various high-end applications which are produced from potential eco-friendly raw materials (such as OPEFB including versatile nanocellulose additives) with the hope that it could contribute to a better future bioeconomy. The main agri-based wastes that exist in the country are oil palm biomass (in the form of fronds, trunks and fibers), paddy straw, rice husk, banana residues, sugarcane bagasse, coconut husk, and pineapple waste [20].
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