Empty Fruit Research Articles

Comparative study of oil palm and nettle fibers reinforced chemically functionalized high‐density polyethylene composites

AbstractThe demand of natural fiber reinforced composites has grown enormously in polymer industries owing to their renewability and sustainability and maintaining their performance and properties. In this investigation, two natural fibers have been considered as a reinforcer to develop chemically functionalized high‐density polyethylene (CF‐HDPE)‐based composites. The total holocellulose content of ~85% and ~65% for nettle fiber (NTF) and oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber (OPF) make them significant for this study. OPF/CF‐HDPE and NTF/CF‐HDPE composites have been developed and characterized to measure their desirable properties. The structural confirmation suggests reinforcement/matrix adhesion through ester and hydrogen bonds between them. NTF/CF‐HDPE and OPF/CF‐HDPE are thermally stable upto 240°C and 250°C, respectively. A significant increment of ~40% and ~64% in tensile strength were observed in addition of OPF and NTF reinforcer in pristine matrix. A similar observation has been shown in flexural strength with improvement of ~58% and ~83% with OPF and NTF as reinforcer. Among all these composite compositions, the 30/70 NTF/CF‐HDPE composite demonstrated the highest tensile and flexural properties values due to higher holocellulose of NTF. This study demonstrates the potential of OPF and NTF reinforcer to develop natural fiber reinforced polymer composites, which helps respective industries to manufactured tailored made products with desirable properties.Highlights OPF/CF‐HDPE and NTF/CF‐HDPE composites are sustainable and low cost. The composite compositions have been developed by extrusion and injection molding. The composite's mechanical (tensile and flexural) properties have been demonstrated. SEM and FTIR characterized the composites for the fiber/matrix adhesion. The composite's thermal stability has been affected by fibers and matrix.

Effective waste management through Co-pyrolysis of EFB and tire waste: Mechanistic and synergism analysis

Driven by the need for solutions to address the global issue of waste accumulation from human activities and industries, this study investigates the thermal behaviors of empty fruit bunch (EFB), tyre waste (TW), and their blends during co-pyrolysis, exploring a potential method to convert waste into useable products. The kinetics mechanism and thermodynamics properties of EFB and TW co-pyrolysis were analysed through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The rate of mass loss for the blend of EFB:TW at a 1:3 mass ratio shows an increase of around 20% due to synergism. However, the blend's average activation energy is higher (298.64 kJ/mol) when compared with single feedstock pyrolysis (EFB = 257.29 kJ/mol and TW = 252.92 kJ/mol). The combination of EFB:TW at a 3:1 ratio does not result in synergistic effects on mass loss. However, a lower activation energy is reported, indicating the decomposition process can be initiated at a lower energy requirement. The reaction model that best describes the pyrolysis of EFB, TW and their blends can be categorised into the diffusion and power model categories. An equal mixture of EFB and TW was the preferred combination for co-management because of the synergistic effect, which significantly impacts the co-pyrolysis process. The mass loss rate experiences an inhibitive effect at an earlier stage (320 °C), followed by a promotional impact at the later stage (380 °C). The activation energy needed for a balanced mixture is the least compared to all tested feedstocks, even lower than the pyrolysis of a single feedstock. The study revealed the potential for increasing decomposition rates using lower energy input through the co-pyrolysis of both feedstocks. These findings evidenced that co-pyrolysis is a promising waste management and valorisation pathway to deal with overwhelming waste accumulation. Future works can be conducted at a larger scale to affirm the feasibility of EFB and TW co-management.

DELIGNIFICATION OF OIL PALM EMPTY FRUIT BUNCHES USING DEEP EUTECTIC SOLVENT IN PRESSURIZED REACTOR

Although lignin from oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) is a sustainable bioresource with several value-added uses, it is still difficult to extract lignin from lignocellulosic biomass economically. Lignin fractions are required for high-value applications and subsequently increase the feasibility of lignocellulosic biorefineries. Besides, the remaining cellulose could be further valorized into various chemical products. In this study, the delignification efficiency of OPEFB under inert and pressurized conditions has been studied as an effective pretreatment method for OPEFB. The optimal conditions of the high-pressure reactor to remove lignin from OPEFB were determined to be 80 °C at 30 bars with the presence of deep eutectic solvents (DES). It was identified that pressure affects the removal of lignin with the least amount of structural breakdown and the digestibility of cellulose. The effective removal of lignin from the OPEFB was established under mild conditions employing an inert nitrogen gas pressurized system. This work selectively removes lignin from the OPEFB of palm oil biomass plants using DES under mild extraction conditions. Solid residues were characterized by using FTIR, SEM, TGA, and XRD to investigate fractions under various reaction conditions, such as removal temperature, time, and pressure. The thermal stability of lignin was determined by TGA. In this study, 36.68% of lignin was removed under optimum pressure conditions at the lowest process temperature of 80 °C to determine how these factors influence the efficiency of lignin extraction in a high-pressure reactor.

Downdraft Gasifier for Oil Palm Empty Bunches with Computational Fluid Dynamics

Abstract The demand for palm oil increases every year and this condition proportional to the increase in waste from the manufacture of palm oil. Therefore, this study aims to determine the potential of empty palm fruit bunches to be used as renewable energy. This research simulated Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) gasification with empty oil palm fruit bunches using a downdraft gasifier, then simulated with three variations of air flow rates. This is done because the air flow rate is very influential on the temperature and gasification results. The best and uniform variation was obtained at a water flow rate of 25 L/min with a resulting temperature of 28 °C to 957 °C and with an even temperature coverage in the reactor. Then in this study the syngas H2, CO, CO2 and CH4 were obtained which were not evenly distributed in the reactor at all variations of air flow rate, and for the acquisition of syngas H2, CO, CO2 and CH4 the most were obtained at variations of air flow rate of 25 L/min.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF CURRENT BIOMASS UTILISATION BY PALM OIL MILLS IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

Oil palm biomass, which includes empty fruit bunches (EFB), mesocarp fibres (MF), palm kernel shells (PKS), and palm oil mill effluent (POME), are no longer seen as low-value residue, but as valuable economic resources that may contribute positively to national wealth. These oil palm biomasses can be converted into high value-added products, which can in turn generate additional revenue for the country. This study aims to identify the current biomass utilisation by palm oil mills in Peninsular Malaysia and examine the economic viability of biomass products generated by these mills across different categories. This study uses primary data obtained through a census of all 242 Malaysian Palm Oil Board-licensed palm oil mills in Peninsular Malaysia. The data were analysed using descriptive analysis and independent samples t-test. The study found that incineration is the most profitable approach for EFB, followed by selling EFB to other parties. However, due to environmental regulation and the lack of market for EFB, most of the resources (62.4%) were either returned to plantations or sent to landfills. In addition, 92.4% of MF generated were utilised for electricity generation through in-house boilers and this alternative has been proven to provide maximum profit to palm oil mills. The study also found that although selling PKS to other parties was proven to provide better profits to the palm oil mills, the PKS were mostly utilised for electricity generation through in-house boilers. Lastly, for the sludge from POME, there was no significant difference in the utilisation of the sludge, either if it was used for plantations or sold to other parties.

THE EFFECT OF OIL PALM EMPTY FRUIT BUNCHES (EFB) COMPOST AND N, P, K FERTILIZERS ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF LOWLAND RICE (Oryza sativa L.)

The use of chemical fertilizers can cause environmental problems. A compost of oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) is one alternative to reducing chemical fertilizers used for rice (Oryza sativa L.). This research to determine the effect and obtain the best dose of OPEFB compost and N, P, K fertilizers in lowland rice Batang Piaman Variety was conducted in Padang Mutung Village, Kampar, for six months using a factorial completely randomized design (CRD). The first factor was three levels of OPEFB (0 t.ha-1, five t.ha-1, ten t.ha-1), and the second factor was four levels of fertilizer N, P and K (0-0-0 kg.ha-1, 125-75-25 kg.ha-1, 150-100-50 kg.ha-1, and 175-125-75 kg.ha-1 of Urea-TSP-KCl). The ANOVA results showed that the combination of various doses of EFB compost and N, P, and K fertilizers did not significantly affect plant height, the number of tillers, the number of productive tillers, heading days, the weight of 1,000 grains, and the harvest index. The combination of giving EFB compost at a dose of 10 t.ha-1 and Urea fertilizer 175 kg.ha-1 TSP 125 kg.ha-1increased the percentage of pithy grain to 93.91%, and the weight of dry milled grain is 2,023.3 g.4m-2.

Electrochemical Performance of Activated Carbon Derived from Empty Fruit Bunch via Chemical and Physical Activation Method

Empty fruit bunch (EFB) is a promising materials to produce activated carbon for electrode materials applications in an energy storage device due to its low cost, high availability and porosity. EFB will require further processing to convert it into activated carbon to enhance its electrochemical performance. In this research, a two-step activation was utilized, in which EFB undergone pyrolysis at 500 °C before being activated via chemical and physical activation methods under various conditions to produce activated carbon. The samples were then characterized using weight loss analysis, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Xray Spectroscopy (FESEM-EDX) and Raman Spectroscopy to evaluate their physical characteristics. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge discharge (GCD) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were performed to evaluate their electrochemical performance. The specific capacitance measured from CV analysis shows better performance for samples from physical activation which were in the range of 24 to 140 F/g compared to samples from chemical activation that resulted in only 36 to 90 F/g. These results suggested that physical activation has yielded better electrochemical performance of activated carbon which was influenced by the higher activation temperature in comparison with that of the chemical activation that was performed at lower activation temperature.

Thermogravimetric analysis and kinetic modeling for empty fruit bunch date palm pyrolysis

This study presents a comparative analysis of different kinetic models applied to the thermochemical pyrolysis of palm empty fruit bunch (PEFB). The kinetic parameters, particularly the activation energy, are determined through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of samples that underwent heating rates ranging from 10 to 50 °C/min. Image analysis of PEFB in a hot-stage microscope reveals an intriguing correlation between the observed shrinkage and the conversion rate (α) and indicates that significant physical and chemical transformations occurred within α between 0.2 and 0.8. The experimental data from TGA demonstrates good alignment with four distinct kinetic models. The Coast-Redfern model gives activation energies ranging from 60 to 134 kJ/mol for α between 0.2 and 0.8. In contrast, the Kissinger model and the isoconversion models, Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose and Ozawa-Flyn-Wall, show higher activation energy of 151, 156, and 157 kJ/mol, respectively. The findings underscore the significant impact of the selected kinetic model on determining kinetic parameters.

A feasibility study of oil palm empty fruit bunch pulp as a substitution for radiata pine pulp for autoclave fibre cement composite production

The main objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using unbleached pulp from oil palm empty fruit bunches, produced via the Ethanolamine pulping process, to replace Radiata Pine pulp in autoclave fibre cement composite (AFCC) manufacturing. The Ethanolamine pulping process was chosen for its silica retention capability on empty fruit bunch surfaces. The research involves three key phases: an initial characterization of RPP and EFBP properties, including kappa numbers and pulp aspect ratios; subsequent AFCC production with varying RPP content levels (0%–13%) and different cement-to-silica (C/S) ratios (0.2–1.0); and the introduction of EFBP as a partial or complete substitute for RPP at a fixed C/S ratio. Results reveal RPP excels in fibre quality attributes like length, coarseness, fineness, width, and wet/dry zero span, while EFBP offers advantages in fibre count and macro fibrillation index. X-ray diffraction confirms silica presence on EFBP. The highest modulus of rupture (MOR), at 15.5 MPa, is achieved with 9% RPP and a C/S ratio of 1.0. Subsequent analysis, with 1% EFBP interval substitutions to total 13% pulp content, yields the highest MOR values under dry (16.7 MPa) and wet (9.9 MPa) conditions using recipes with 6% RPP and 3% EFBP. XRD confirms the presence of silica on EFBP, forming a crystalline flake layer post-autoclaving. Thus, EFBP proves suitable as a partial AFCC substitute.

Modification of hydrochar derived from palm waste with thiourea to produce N, S co-doped activated carbon for supercapacitor

This study examines modifying hydrochar from biomass to produce N, S codoped activated carbon for supercapacitor applications. Hydrochar was created from oil palm empty fruits bunch with the activating agent CaCl2 at 275 °C for 60 minutes. Hydrochar modification was carried out by the impregnation method in thiourea solution for 2 hours and impregnation ratio (1, 2, and 3) and continued the activation process at 800 °C for 120 minutes. The in-depth exploration of porosity unveiled a distinct pattern, as the progressive increase in impregnation ratio exerted a corresponding dampening effect on the activated carbon's surface area (151.57−234.56 m2 g−1). Subsequent engagement in electrochemical scrutiny, facilitated by a meticulously designed two-electrode system, revealed a pinnacle in capacitance performance, culminating at an impressive 135.12 F g−1at 0.5 A g−1 The energy and power densities achieved remarkable magnitudes in concert, scaling up to 3.4 Wh kg−1 and 202.6 W kg−1, respectively. Demonstrating robustness through the crucible of a 5000-cycle durability evaluation, the modified activated carbon-based supercapacitor emerged with unswerving capacitance retention and coulombic efficiency, each clocking in at a steadfast 106 % and 95 %. The discerning insights drawn from this inquiry underscore that the strategic incorporation of N, S-modification via thiourea engenders a qualitative enhancement within the supercapacitor's performance domain.

Synergistic integration of hydrothermal pretreatment and co-digestion for enhanced biogas production from empty fruit bunches in high solids anaerobic digestion

This study investigates the co-digestion of hydrothermally pretreated empty fruit bunches (EFB) at 190 °C for 5 min (HTP190-EFB) with decanter cake (DC) to improve biogas production in high solid anaerobic digestion (HSAD). The HTP190-EFB exhibited a 67.98 % reduction in total solids, along with the production of 0.89 g/L of sugar, 2.39 g/L of VFA, and 0.56 g/L of furfural in the liquid fraction. Co-digestion of HTP190-EFB with DC at mixing ratios of 5, 10, and 15 %w/v demonstrated improved methane yields and process stability compared to mono-digestion of HTP190-EFB. The highest methane yield of 372.69 mL CH4/g-VS was achieved in the co-digestion with 5 %w/v DC, representing a 15 % increase compared to digestion of HTP190-EFB (324.30 mL CH4/g-VS) alone. Synergistic effects were quantified, with the highest synergistic methane yield of 77.65 mL CH4/g-VS observed in the co-digestion with 5 %w/v DC. Microbial community analysis revealed that co-digestion of hydrothermally pretreated EFB with decanter cake promoted the growth of Clostridium sp., Lactobacillus sp., Fibrobacter sp., Methanoculleus sp., and Methanosarcina sp., contributing to enhanced biogas production compared to mono-digestion of pretreated EFB. Energy balance analysis revealed that co-digestion of HTP190-EFB with DC resulted in a total net energy of 599.95 kW, 52 % higher than mono-digestion of HTP190-EFB (394.62 kW). Economic analysis showed a shorter return on investment for the co-digestion system (0.86 years) compared to the mono-digestion of HTP190-EFB (1.02 years) and raw EFB (2.69 years). The co-digestion of HTP190-EFB with 5 %w/v DC offers a promising approach to optimize methane yield, process stability, and economic feasibility, supporting the palm oil industry for producing renewable energy and sustainable waste management.

Evaluasi Penggerak Mesin Pengolahan Tandan Kosong (EFB) dengan Menggunakan Motor Induksi di PT. Suryabumi Argo Langgeng Sumatra Selatan

The research issues include the performance of three-phase induction motors and the impact of load on three-phase induction motors. This study aims to develop a driving system for empty fruit bunches (EFB) processing machines using induction motors at PT. Suryabumi Agro Langgeng, South Sumatra. The research was conducted at PT. Suryabumi Agro Langgeng in South Sumatra, from May to June 2024. Primary data in this research were obtained through observation and interviews, while secondary data were gathered from document analysis. In the context of this research on three-phase induction motors, document analysis techniques can be used to analyze various documents such as scientific literature, technical specifications, maintenance reports, production records, or other documents related to induction motors. The research methods include system requirements analysis, system design and implementation of the driving system, and performance testing of the developed system. The results show that the use of induction motors can provide better operational efficiency in EFB processing. This research is expected to contribute positively to improving the efficiency and productivity of PT. Suryabumi Agro Langgeng's operations.

Effectiveness of empty fruit bunch ash as the catalyst for palm oil transesterification

Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) resulted from oil palm plantations and mills can be converted into ash through open combustion. The EFB ash then treated by simple calcination and used as a heterogeneous catalyst for biodiesel production. The characteristics of EFB ash were identified based on its elemental composition, porous structure, and active site size. The effectivity of the EFB ash as a catalyst was tested in a transesterification reaction of Refined Bleached Deodorized Palm Oil (RBDPO) with excess methanol (30 %-w) in various catalyst loads (in%-wt). The lab-scale experiments were conducted in a three-neck glass reactor, which was put on the hot plate stirrer at 450 rpm. The EFB ash performed the best as a catalyst by attaining optimal conversion at 65 °C for 1 h with a 16 %-wt of catalyst load. In this condition, most of the standard quality of biodiesel were complied with total glycerol under 0.24% and ester methyl contents up to 98.9 %. The characteristics tests showed that the properties and active side of the EFB ash are excellent after calcination at 600 for 5 h. The recyclability test of EFB ash as a catalyst showed high performance in two repetition cycles, each showing an increase in the yield of biodiesel, which was 92.21 % in cycle 2 and 91.23 % in cycle 3.

Biofilm Formation on Denture Base Material Reinforced With a Novel Organic Material.

Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) is a novel organic material developed by one of the authors in this study. When MCC was incorporated with conventionally available denture base resin, it demonstrated increased flexural strength and flexural modulus. However, it was speculated that because the material is organic, it can promote the growth of Candida. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the Candida albicans biofilm formation on polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) denture base resin incorporated with MCC. MCC is an organic material extracted from the oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB). The growth of C. albicans and biofilm formation in three test groups were compared by biofilm assay and imaging techniques like microscopy (by safranin staining) and scanning electron microscopy. The three test groups were comprised of MCC-reinforced PMMA containing OPEFB fibers of 50-micrometer thickness at 5% weight reinforcement, conventionally and commercially available heat cure PMMA, and an empty well to assess any discrepancies from the environment. The test groups showed increased biofilm formation by C. albicans compared to commercially and conventionally available heat cure PMMA. Reinforcement with MCC showed higher biofilm formation of 1.43 times higher compared to conventional PMMA. Biofilms formed by Candida albicans on MCC-reinforced PMMA appeared heterogeneous in structure, comprised of yeast cells and hyphae, surrounded by a higher density of polysaccharide extracellular matrix material compared to that of conventionally available heat cure PMMA. Biofilm formation is increased in denture base resin incorporated with MCC. More investigation is warranted to study the antifungal efficacy of the addition of antifungal agents to the reinforced denture base resin.

Karakterisasi Bioetanol dari Limbah Tandan Kosong Kelapa Sawit

At the moment, Indonesia still relies heavily on fossil fuels to cover its domestic energy demands. However, one of the main causes of the rise in greenhouse gas emissions is the nation's reliance on fossil fuels for energy damage to the environment. An alternate energy source is called bioethanol. The fermentation process of natural ingredients with the help of microorganisms, Bioethanol produced from biomass in this study is palm empty fruit bunches (PEFB) because of the cellulose content of 45.59% which can be converted into second-generation bioethanol. Poses for making bioethanol of PEFB through the process of pretreatment, hydrolysis, fermentation, and distillation. The purpose of this study is to determine the characteristics of bioethanol produced by PEFB waste. Bioethanol characteristic testing refers to test standards determined by SNI 7390:2008/2013, This study produced ethanol content of 4.92% in 6-day fermentation that did not meet the specified standards, methanol content produced 0.4% in 10-day fermentation and had met the specified standards, water content in 4-10 days fermentation produced 25.56%-30.72% did not meet the specified standards, denaturant content in 10-day fermentation produced 9% had met the specified standards. The fermentation of 6 days produced the best condition, obtaining 4.92% ethanol content and 25% moisture content. Still, it did not meet the specific standards of SNI 7390:2008, but met the SNI standards for the methanol content of 0.4%, denaturant level of 11%, acidity of 0.3 mg /L, chloride ion levels of 0.7 mg /L, sulphur content of 0.68 mg /L, and the sap content of 7 mg / l.

FACILE SYNTHESIS OF CARBOXYMETHYL CELLULOSE (CMC) FROM AGRICULTURAL RESIDUES

Cellulose derivative products, such as carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), which are used in the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries, but still rely on cotton-derived cellulose, can be made from oil palm fruit empty bunches (OPEFB) and rice straw. This study examined how sodium monochloroacetic acid (NaMCA) concentration (3, 6, and 9 g) affected the simple synthesis and characteristics of CMC from OPEFB and rice straw cellulose. OPEFB-derived CMC produced with NaMCA (9 g) had the lowest of brightness, while rice straw CMC was brighter. NaMCA modifications altered the onset temperature (Tonset), but not maximum degradation temperature (Tmax), according to thermal analysis. The onset temperatures of OPEFB and rice straw CMC were 40–62 °C and 67–183 °C, respectively. Commercial CMC has an onset temperature of about 27 °C. The EDX analysis showed that rice straw CMC had a higher degree of substitution (DS) of 0.34–1.37 than OPEFB CMC, which had 0.30-0.70. Oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) cellulose and rice straw cellulose offer a viable carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) alternative. This process turns agricultural waste into valuable products and enables for their usage in numerous applications.

CHARACTERIZATION OF UNBLEACHED PULP FROM EMPTY FRUIT BUNCHES OF OIL PALM AS A RAW MATERIAL FOR BROWN PAPER

Improper disposal of palm biomass wastes resulting from industrial palm oil production may contribute to the environmental issues in Indonesia. However, given their abundance and availability, empty fruit bunches (EFB) can be potentially considered as a raw material for unbleached pulp. In this study, unbleached pulp was produced from oil palm EFB by a pulping process with alkaline pretreatment. FT-IR analysis confirmed the presence of cellulose in the pulp, with absorption peaks at 3332 cm-1 corresponding to the O-H stretching and at 1029 cm-1 assigned to the stretching of the C-O-C bond, respectively. SEM images revealed the aspect of individual fibers, with a rigid appearance, in the pulp obtained from EFB biomass. The major crystalline peak was observed at 2θ of 22.41°, indicating the presence of cellulose. Brown paper was made from the unbleached pulp (A4 size, with a grammage of 134 g/m2 and a thickness of 219.3 μm) and proved to have excellent mechanical strength. Therefore, unbleached pulp from oil palm EFB can be recommended to be used in the manufacture of brown paper.

CELLULASE PRODUCTION BY TRICHODERMA REESEI AND ITS APPLICATION IN HYDROLYZING OIL PALM EMPTY FRUIT BUNCHES

This study aimed to optimize cellulase production from Trichoderma reesei and apply it for the hydrolysis of oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB). The effects of substrate, pH, nutrient, incubation period, and temperature on cellulase production were investigated using the solid-state fermentation method. OPEFB hydrolysis involved varying enzyme loadings (5, 10, 15, and 20 U/g substrate). The results indicated that the highest CMCase activity (1.02±0.008 U/mL) was achieved under optimal conditions, which included using rice bran as the substrate at 30 °C, pH 6.5, without nutrient addition, and an incubation period of 6 days. In OPEFB hydrolysis, the highest concentration of reducing sugars, 2.395 mg/mL, was observed with a 10 U/g enzyme loading after 48 hours of hydrolysis. FTIR results revealed that the characteristic absorption band at 1205 cm-1, representing the C1-O-C4 glycosidic bond of cellulose, was not observed in the sample hydrolyzed at the 10 U/g enzyme loading. This suggests the capability of the enzyme to hydrolyze OPEFB.

Effect of nanofibril cellulose empty fruit bunch‐reinforced thermoplastic polyurethane nanocomposites on tensile and dynamic mechanical properties for flexible substrates

Effect of nanofibril cellulose empty fruit bunch‐reinforced thermoplastic polyurethane nanocomposites on tensile and dynamic mechanical properties for flexible substrates

Lignin‐based polyurethane composites enhanced with hydroxyapatite for controlled drug delivery and potential cellular scaffold applications

AbstractPolymer technology has rapidly advanced across diverse domains, particularly in biomedical applications. Among various polymers, polyurethane (PU) hold great potential in developing biomaterials such as biomedical scaffold and drug delivery. In this study, we have innovatively engineered eco‐friendly polyurethane using lignin, a sustainable bio‐polyol derived from oil palm empty fruit bunches. To enhance the physicochemical properties of the PU, we have incorporated hydroxyapatite (HA) into the composites. The inclusion of HA has led to notable improvements in crucial properties such as density, porosity, and water absorption, making these composites ideal candidates for tissue regeneration scaffolds. Furthermore, to assess their biomedical applicability in drug delivery and cell scaffolding, we have employed the quercetin drug model. The results revealed a sustained kinetic release behavior within the polyurethane/hydroxyapatite (PU/HA) composites, showcasing their potential for controlled drug delivery applications. Moreover, cytotoxicity assays conducted using neuro‐2a cell models demonstrated the non‐cytotoxic nature of both PU and PU/HA composites. This finding holds significant implications for biomedical applications, indicating that these composites offer biocompatible platforms for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine endeavors. The ability of these composites to support cell viability underscores their potential for a wide range of biomedical applications, including neural tissue engineering and drug delivery systems targeting brain diseases. These findings pave the way for the development of innovative and sustainable biomaterials with diverse biomedical applications.Highlights An eco‐friendly polyurethane has been engineered by harnessing liginin‐derived oil palm empty fruit bunches. Incorporation of hydroxyapaptite enhance the physical properties of polyurethane. Controlled kinetic drug release is one of polyurethane/hydroxyapatite (PU/HA) composites features. The PU/HA composites has low cytotoxicity against neuro‐2a cells.