Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Fiber Research Articles

Enhanced laccase production for oil palm biomass delignification using biological pretreatment and its estimation at biorefinary scale

The heterogeneous lignocellulosic contents of oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fiber requires the use of chemical or biological pre-treatment for further value-added applications. An effective biological pre-treatment was preferred since it is mild, low energy, substrate specific and will not generate any inhibitory chemicals that interfere enzymatic activities and fermentation process. The biological pre-treatment of OPEFB fibers by local isolate Pycnoporus sanguineus was investigated in this work to improve its biodegradability through laccase production via solid-state fermentation approach. The effects of physical parameters (temperature, inducer concentrations, substrate loading) were explored to obtain maximum laccase production by P. sanguines. Results showed that the use of extractive-free OPEFB fiber at 30 °C supplemented with 4 mM of 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) and 10 g of OPEFB loading yielded laccase production that was 2.1 fold higher compared to raw OPEFB. The changes of chemical and surface structures of raw, chemicals and laccase treated OPEFB were reported from Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. The simulated techno-economic analysis suggested economic feasibility of a batch bio-refinery for laccase production in an industrial scale feed at a maximum rate of 50 tons OPEFB/batch. From the simulated baseline study, the cost price forecast for laccase production was 14.26 US$/kg owing to the capital (65.87%) and raw materials costs (31.68%). This study reveals the potential of P. sanguineus to be used not only in biorefinery industry but also in biopulping, biobleaching (in textile and paper industries) and degrading phenolic waste (dye, colorant, pesticide waste).

TESTING THE FLEXURAL PROPERTIES OF POLYMER COMPOSITES FOAMING HYBRID OIL PALM EMPTY FRUIT BUNCHES (OPEFB) AND ZINC OXIDE (ZnO)

Oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) is one of the palm oil industry solid wastes that can be used as an alternative material to product composites. This research was conducted to determine the effect of the addition of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) as a filler material hybridized with OPEFB fiber to the flexural strength of polymeric foam composites. The aim of this research is to obtain the strength of the flexural test value of the composite material polymeric foam reinforced OPEFB fiber and Zinc Oxide (ZnO) with reference to the ASTM D790-92 standard. The composition of the specimens are 70% Resin, 15% OPEFB Fiber, 15% Polyurethane with different fiber sizes namely mesh (40, 60, 80, 100) and the addition of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) of (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%). The test specimen used for each composition is 5 samples, so that the entire test sample is 100 samples. From the test data it can be concluded the value of flexural strength in the 100 mesh OPEFB specimens and the addition of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) 10% is the best composition compared to 40, 60 and 80 mesh OPEFB with the addition of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) 5%, 15%, and 20%, where the voltage value is 10,01141 MPa and the strain value is 0,898456 mm / mm. From the research data it can also be concluded that the smaller the OPEFB fiber size with the addition of zinc oxidation (ZnO) 10%, the flexural strength of the polymeric foam composite material will be better.

Effect of Chemical Treatment on Tensile Properties of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch (OPEFB)-based All Cellulose Composite (ACC) Films

This study explored the potential of using oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) in the production all-cellulose composite (ACC) films. The isolation process of the raw OPEFB fiber was carried out using chemical process to extract the OPEFB nanocellulose. The ACC films from the OPEFB and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) were prepared using dimethylacetamide (DMAC) and lithium chloride solvent system whereby the partially dissolved cellulose was transformed into the matrix phase surrounding the remaining non-dissolved fiber. The ACC films containing 1, 2, 3 and 4 % (wt/vol) OPEFB cellulose and 3 % (wt/vol) microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) were prepared and the effects of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate chemical treatment of the OPEFB cellulose on tensile properties of the ACC film were investigated. Results indicate that the chemical treatment using 2-ethylhexyl acrylate has reduced the hydroxyl group composition in the cellulose and allowing greater dissolution of the cellulose during the formation of the ACC film. As a result, the tensile strength and modulus of elasticity of the ACC film were significantly enhanced. However, both untreated and treated ACC films experienced the reduction in both properties when the cellulose concentration was increased from 1 % to 4% (wt/vol), due to the saturation of the cellulose particles and non-homogeneity of the ACC system.

Microwave assisted dilute organic acid pre-treatment of oil palm empty fruit bunch to improve enzyme accessibility

The depletion of fossil fuel is intriguing for researchers to find sustainable energy. Oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) is abundant biomass in Indonesia which is potential to be converted into bioethanol because of its high cellulose content. Suitable pre-treatment could increase the effectiveness of cellulose conversion into sugars. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Microwave-assisted Oxalic Acid pre-treatment (MOxA) and Enzymatic Hydrolysis (EH) to improve enzyme accessibility through variation of heating temperature, irradiation time, and EH incubation time. The higher the microwave heating temperature, longer irradiation time, and longer EH incubation time, the higher the glucose yield per pulp (GY) and reducing sugar yield (RSY) were observed. After MOxA at 200°C-15 min, as much as 43.22 % GY per initial biomass was obtained by EH for 10 days. SEM images showed more ruptures on the surface area of OPEFB fibre after MOxA that supported in increasing of enzyme digestibility. The XRD spectra demonstrated that the crystallinity index (CI) increased after MOxA because pre-treatment reduced amorphous components in the biomass. In addition, the FTIR spectra showed that peak intensity at 1714 cm−1 corresponded to hemicellulose was gradually reduced after MOxA while peaks corresponded to lignin was more discernible.

Morphology, mechanical properties, and biodegradability of all‐cellulose composite films from oil palm empty fruit bunch

AbstractPalm oil plantations are very important in that they supply vegetable oil globally. However, increased production of palm oil prompts the accumulation of large lignocelluloses residues in the form of oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB). This study explored the advantages of using OPEFB in the production of all‐cellulose composite (ACC) films. The isolation process of the raw OPEFB fiber was carried out using a chemical process to extract OPEFB nanocellulose. ACC films from OPEFB and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) were prepared using a dimethylacetamide (DMAC) and lithium chloride solvent system whereby the partially dissolved cellulose was transformed into the matrix phase surrounding the remaining nondissolved fiber. ACC films with 1% (wt/vol) OPEFB and 3% (wt/vol) MCC were prepared and the effects of chemical treatment of the OPEFB cellulose on the mechanical properties, crystalline structure, morphology, moisture absorption and soil biodegradability of the ACC film were investigated. The tensile strength of the ACC film was tremendously improved by chemical treatment. For instance, when acetic acid was used to treat the nanocellulose, the resultant film showed 279% increment in tensile strength value. However, formic acid‐treated films demonstrate greater moisture uptake and soil biodegradation rate. The findings could be related to the alterations of hydroxyl group composition in the nanocellulose and variation in dissolution rate of the nanocellulose during chemical treatment.

Palm oil mill effluent as the pretreatment solvent of oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber for fermentable sugars production

Pretreatment is an essential upstream process to deconstruct oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber (OPEFBF) prior to sugars production. This study aimed to investigate the efficiency of OPEFBF pretreatment using palm oil mill effluent (POME) as solvent. The effect of alkali catalyst (5%w/w NaOH and ammonia), temperature (90,120,135 °C) and time (60,120,180 min) on the efficiency of pretreatment (OPEFBF-to-solvent ratio of 1:25) was also investigated. The results indicated that POME-pretreatment (135 °C, 180 min) enhanced glucose yield by only ~56%. Glucose production was increased about 5.8-fold to 495.3 ± 5.9 mg g−1 OPEFBF when NaOH was added in POME-pretreatment (Na-P). The xylose production from OPEFBF was increased about 3.7-fold after ammonia-catalyzed POME-pretreatment. About 12.1 ± 0.2 g L−1 of ethanol was produced from Na-P-hydrolysate at molar conversion of 59.4 ± 1.4%. This research provides new insight into the use of POME as a cost-effective pretreatment solvent of OPEFBF to reduce upstream process cost by cutting down water usage.

Degradation Behaviour of Nanosilica Enhanced Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Fiber Epoxy Composites

In recent years, studies regarding natural fiber reinforced composites have been increased as they are biodegradable with good mechanical performance therefore can help to overcome the environmental issue. As the natural fibers are easy to obtain, many industries have started to make use of natural fiber composites which are light in weight and possess good mechanical properties. However, the natural fiber composites also possess certain limitations most importantly their high moisture absorption ability which makes them incompatible at degradable environment. The fiber constituents of natural fiber composite may have different type of interactions at different environmental conditions. In addition, the involvement of nanoparticles in the composite may be the solution to overcome the deficiencies. In this research, the degradation behaviour of Oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fibers reinforced epoxy composites upon exposure to degradable environmental conditions and the effect of adding nanoparticles have been studied. The tensile tests were conducted before and after the exposure to different environmental conditions including plain water, moist soil, brine solution, and cooking oil. Results shows that the addition of 10wt% of OPEFB fiber to the epoxy composites had improved the mechanical tensile strength up to 15.97% and composites exposed to brine solution have the most prominent sign of degradation in mechanical properties in both composites with and without nanosilica. Nevertheless, the composites with nanosilica have shown up to 24.28% improvement in tensile strength after exposure to different environmental conditions. The improvement were attributed due to filling the voids of the composites with nanosilica and good interfacial adhesion between the nanofiller, fiber, and matrix.

Sifat Fisik Dan Mekanik Papan Komposit Dari Serat Tandan Kosong Kelapa Sawit (TKKS) Hasil Penguraian Secara Mekanis Dengan Perekat Gambir

Oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) are a solid waste product from the oil palm industry that are about 70% fiber. Previous research has indicated that this fiber can be used to produce composite board. Gambier can be used in an adhesive to produce these boards as it has strong adhesive properties. This research investigates the suitability of four types of OPEFB fiber resulting from different mechanical separation speeds and three adhesive made from differing concentrations of Gambier (12%, 14%, 16%) to produce high quality composite board. The results of the research suggest the type of the fiber and the concentration of the gambier used significantly influence the density of the resulting board and that there are interactions between these two variables. The water content of the board is significantly influenced by the type of OPEFB fibre but not by the concentration of gambier or any interaction between these variables. Thickness swelling, modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) are all influenced by type of fiber and concentration of gambier without any significant interaction between these two factors. The best types of fiber was those labeled A and B. The best performing composite board was produced from the longer B fibers and 16% gambier adhesive. This board a had density of 0.86 g/cm3, MOR 251.3 kg/cm2 and strength parallel to the grain of 145.6 kg/cm2. This data suggests that the density, water content and MOR of the boards made with this combination of material meets standard SNI 03-2105-2006 however the thickness swelling of the board fails this standard.

Manufacture and Strength Analysis of Ergonomic Bicycle Helmet Made from Polymeric Foam Composite Strengthened by Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Fiber with Free Fall Drop Test Method

This article contains a study report on the manufacturing of bicycle helmet models that use polymeric foam composite materials strengthened by oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB). The test results of mechanical polymeric foam obtain tensile stress (σt) 1.17 MPa, compressive stress (σc) 0.51 MPa, bending stress (σb) 3.94 MPa, modulus of elasticity (E) 37.97 MPa, density ( ρ) 193 (kg / m3). The testing results of thermal conductivity (k) with ASTM C177-04 standard obtain 0.096 W/mK. Aerodynamic simulation is carried out on 5 bicycle helmet models with different variations of air ventilation formations and obtained the M4A model that best met the ergonomic criteria. The simulation results of the M4A helmet model are max 65.668 Pa of air pressure (Pu), 26,8 0C of inner wall temperature (Ti), 11.0724 m/s of air velocity (vi) and 0.89 of drag coefficient (CD). Bicycle helmet manufacturing is carried out by hand lay up method for shell layer and casting mold for liner by using GFRP polymer composite molds. Both layers are made by sandwich method with the composition of the shell layer is 100 grams resin, 15 grams glass fiber and 5 grams catalyst. The composition of the liner layer is 275 grams (50%) of unsaturated Polyester 157 BQTN-EX resin, 27.5 grams (5%) of OPEFB fiber, 247 grams (45%) of Blowing Agent Polyurethane and 27.5 grams (5%) of Methyl Ketone Perokside catalyst (MEKPO). The toughness of the helmet is tested by using a free fall drop test with the standard of Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) with the height of impact 1.5 meters. The free fall drop test results are max 2.02 MPa of the impact stress of the M4A bicycle helmet model (σi) and max 283.77 joules of energy impact (Ei) which is close to the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) standard value of 110 joules.

Enhancement of physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of biocomposite for the fire resistant material application

This study deals with the enhancement of physical and mechanical properties of oil palm empty fruit bunch fibers (OPEFB) for new fire resistant material application. Two flame retardants (organic and inorganic) were applied to improve the fire resistant capability of the produced fibers. The fire resistant capability was tested according to the ASTM D6413-99 method. Mechanical properties were characterized using a universal testing machine and the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was performed to investigate their thermal behaviors. The surface morphology of the produced fibers was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This study found that the fire resistant capability of the fibers can be improved by the addition of flame retardants. Thermal properties of the treated fibers can be enhanced compared to the untreated fibers. Mechanical properties inspection revealed that increasing the flame retardant concentration (0.5 to 1 M) can improve their tensile strength but started to decrease at a higher concentration (3 M). In general, the present work successfully performed the enhancement of non-woven OPEFB properties for foreseeable fire resistant material applications.

Mechanical and flame-retardant properties of oil palm empty fruit bunches

In this work we studied the mechanical and flame retardant properties of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches (OPEFB). Currently, the use of OPEFB waste in Indonesia is not optimal and the amount of the waste continues to increase every year. In this study, we optimized the flame retardant properties of non-woven OPEFB fibers. The OPEFB fiber was modified by making it non woven and treated in situ by immersing it with a mixture of NaOH and CaCl2 solution (flame retardant-1 treatment) and also a mixture of KOH and CaCl2 solution (flame retardant-2 treatment). In addition, the treated fibers were investigated for surface morphology and tested for thermal and tensile strength tests. Provision of flame retardant treatment in non woven fibers can improve flame retarding and mechanical properties. The objective of this study was optimization of flame retardant treatment of OPEFB. Non woven fiber which was treated with the first flame retardant with a concentration of 3 M did not burn for 12 seconds. The vertical flame test showed that the burning time until the fiber runs out was slowed to 39 seconds. Fibers treated with NaOH and CaCl2 with 3 M concentration also had the best tensile strength values of 8.13 MPa. In the morphology test, non-woven fibers with the first flame retardant treatment were better than non woven fibers with the second flame retardant treatment.

Preparation and characterization study on maleic acid cross‐linked poly(vinyl alcohol)/chitin/nanocellulose composites

AbstractIn the quest on improving composite formulations for environmental sustainability, maleic acid (MA) cross‐linked poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)‐α‐chitin composites reinforced by oil palm empty fruit bunch fibers (OPEFB)‐derived nanocellulose crystals (NCC) had been successfully prepared. Based on the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic analysis, it was proven that molecular interactions of the cross‐linker to the polymeric networks was through conjugated ester linkage. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that the influence of MA was minimal toward crystallization in the PVA/chitin/NCC composite. Maximum tensile strength, elongation at break and Young's modulus of the respective PVA/chitin/NCC composites were achieved at different content of MA, dependent on the PVA/chitin mass ratio. Among all compositions, a maximum Young's modulus was achieved at 30 wt% MA loading in PVA/chitin‐30/NCC, amounting to 2,413.81 ± 167.36 MPa. Moreover, the mechanical properties and selected physicochemical properties (swelling, gel content, and contact angle) of the PVA/chitin/NCC composites could be tailored by varying the chitin content (10–30 wt%) and MA content (10–50 wt% based on total mass of composite). In brief, this chemically cross‐linked PVA‐based biocomposites formulated with sustainable resources exhibited tunable physicochemical and mechanical properties.

Integrated production of prebiotic xylooligosaccharides and high value cellulose from oil palm biomass

Oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fibre, which is the byproduct of fruits being stripped from the fresh fruit bunch in palm oil mill, was evaluated in terms of the production of xylooligosaccharides (XOs) and the solid residue was treated for cellulose recovery. Chemoenzymatic hydrolysis that consists of chemical fractionation of OPEFB fibre to isolate xylan with further enzymatic hydrolysis to XOs in a packed bed column reactor (PBCR) was performed. An immobilised xylanase of Thermomyces lanuginosus at the concentration of 8.25 fungal xylanase unit wheat/mililitre (FXUW mL−1) was employed on a PBCR to hydrolyse the xylan at 55 °C and pH 5.5. The yields of XOs are composed of xylopentaose, xylotetraose, xylotriose and xylobiose, successfully produced from the OPEFB-xylan, shown in HPLC analysis with the total production of 8,776 mg/L and the immobilised xylanase can be recycled up to six enzymatic treatment cycles. The solid residue generated from the xylan extraction was further treated with mild concentration of bleaching agents of 20% (v/v) formic acid and 5% (v/v) hydrogen peroxide at 85 °C. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis showed that the products obtained have the standard cellulose structure and functional group. Further analyses on the properties of the extracted cellulose in terms of crystallinity, thermal stability and morphology were conducted. The integrated process to produce XOs from OPEFB and recover cellulose from its byproduct is sustainable to extract fine chemicals from OPEFB.

Production and characterization of bioflocculant via solid state fermentation process using oil palm empty fruit bunch fibers as substrate

Abstract Bioflocculant is an extracellular biopolymer substance secreted naturally by microorganisms during their growth. It has piqued the interest of many researchers due to its biodegradability, nontoxic properties, and potential as a substitute for conventional flocculant where its usage may lead to environmental and health issues. In the present study, Aspergillus niger DWB was used to investigate the production and characterization of bioflocculant. The bioflocculant was produced by utilizing agricultural residue from the oil palm industry, oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fiber as the carbon source. The effect of pH of the medium, as well as the inoculum size on the bioflocculant production, was examined. The maximum bioflocculant yield obtained after 48 h of fermentation was 9.48%/g substrate under tested condition. In addition, the bioflocculant produced showed a good flocculating rate in kaolin suspension at pH 6, within 15 min of retention time and using 4 ml of bioflocculant dosage. The functional group of the extracted bioflocculant was determined using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, which revealed the presence of hydroxyl and carboxyl groups. These functional groups attributed to their flocculating abilities. The results obtained from this study suggested that the agricultural waste, OPEFB fiber can serve as a suitable solid substrate in the production of bioflocculant.

The physical properties observation of oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) chemical treated fibres

The key objective of this work was to observe the effect of chemical treatments on the oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fibres. The OPEFB fibres were treated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) by 3% of concentration and 7 hours of soaking time. The treated OPEFB fibres were subjected to Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). The FTIR spectroscopy and XRD performed using Spectrum RXI and Shimadzu XRD 6000 respectively. The FTIR result shows that the physical properties of the treated OPEFB fibres changed due to amount of amorphous materials removed. While the XRD results show the major crystalline peak occurred at 2θ = 29.8°.

Strength of polymeric foam composite reinforced oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber subjected to impact load

The subjects of this study were polymeric foam (PF) composites reinforced oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) fiber to dynamic load. OPEFB is waste of Palm Oil Mill which large number. This waste is seen has good potential to be harnessed and developed to become the engineering materials. This composite is processed with mixing of polyurethane (PU) and polyester resin. The paper aims to find the density of PF composite reinforced OPEFB fiber and to investigate the mechanical properties due to dynamic load. The specimens were prepared following the ASTM D1621-00 impact test standard. The method of making the test specimen is done by casting. The ratio of PU and mixing of polyester resin and OPEFB is 45 %: 65%. The results are gotten density 630 kg/m3, at a level test of 0.5 m the magnitude of the tension that occurs is 226.68 kPa, the average energy absorbed is 75.20 Joule and at the level test of 1m, the magnitude of the tension is 261.43 kPa, the absorbed energy is 184, 68 Joule.

Modifikasi Unit PemotonMesin Pencacah Serat TKKS Menggunakan Silinder Pemotong Tipe Reel

Oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) are solid waste from the oil palm plantation industry with a fiber content of ± 70%, and can be used as a composite board reinforcement. From the results of previous studies found that the mechanical properties of composite boards of OPEFB fibers between the left, middle and right parts occur very large differences, this situation occurs because the length of the fiber used is not the same between 3-10 cm. The long fibers in addition to the adhesive mixing process are very difficult and long, also resulting in uneven strength of the boards on each side. The purpose of this study is to modify the design of the TKKS fiber chopping machine cutting unit using a reel type cutting cylinder, making the machine cutting unit, and testing the engine performance. From the results of engine design, the engine capacity is ± 85 kg / hour, the engine size is 110 cm x 36.5 cm x 49 cm, the motor power is 2.5 HP with a rotation of 1450 Rpm. The components of the chopper unit consist of the chopper holder measuring 8 cm x l5 cm x 13 cm, placed 3 pieces of planers which are 8 cm x 5 cm x 0.4 cm, the chopper shaft measuring 40 cm long and Ø 3 cm, the holder of the pin measuring Ø 16 cm with a thickness of 0.6 cm. From the results of engine performance testing, it is found that the capacity of the machine with 5 mm filter diameter is 35 kg / hour, diameter of 10 mm 48 kg / hour, diameter 15 mm 55 kg / hour and diameter of 20 mm is 65 kg / hour. The uniformity of the results in the filter hole 5 mm the average fiber length of 15-25 is 80%, the filter hole 10 mm fiber length an average of 30-40 mm by 82%, the filter hole 15 mm fiber length an average of 40-50 mm by 85%, and the filter hole 20 mm in fiber length an average of 50-60 mm by 80%.

Membandingkan Cetakan Terbuka Dengan Tertutup Pada Pembuatan Papan Skate Board Dari Limbah Sawit

This study aims to compare open and closed molds, hand lay-up method in the manufacture of skate board boards from oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) fiber reinforced composites. The constituent materials of this composite are OPEFB fiber and unsaturated polyester resin. The mixing of both of materials with the ratio of the composition of the OPEFB fiber and polyester resin is made based on a volume fraction of 20:80. The diameter of the OPEFB fiber that is used ranges from 0.1 to 0.8 mm mixed into the unsaturated polyster resin liquid. OPEFB fibers are arranged longitudinally with one layer according to the thickness of the skate board. Skate board prints made using a cover have smooth surfaces on both sides. However, to ensure that the resin has filled the entire surface of the mold from a closed mold seen from the presence of resin that comes out of the closing gap. This resin can not be used anymore because it will dry up and freeze. When compared with printouts without pentup has a rough surface on the top side of the skate board. The conclusion is that the use of closed molds has better results when compared to open molds.

Isolation of α-cellulose from Oil Palm Waste Biomass as a Raw Material for Nanocrystalline Cellulose (NCC)

Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches (OPEFB) and mesocarp can mainly be used as a raw material for nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC), which was previously converted into α-cellulose. Although this biomass is abundant, it needs to be observed that which part of the OPEFB and mesocarp are more suitable to be used as a raw material for NCC in terms of the characteristics of α-cellulose, especially the degree of crystallinity. To isolate α-cellulose, the lignocellulose material was dissolved into acid, delignified to remove lignin and bleached, then dissolved it with NaOH 17.5%. The samples were then analyzed for the composition of fiber chemicals, determined the yield of α-cellulose, degree of crystallinity (XRD), functional groups (FTIR) and surface morphology (SEM). From the observation, it is known that OPEFB fibers have relatively higher cellulose levels the mesocarp fibers. From the visual appearance, α-cellulose color of OPEFB is whiter than the mesocarp. Comparatively, the yield of α-cellulose and the degree of crystallinity of fiber and α-cellulose OPEFB are higher than the mesocarp. The observation of functional groups showed that there was a difference between fiber and α-cellulose, but there was no difference between α-cellulose and OPEFB and mesocarp. The observation of the surface morphological structure of α-cellulose shows that the OPEFB has a more unified structure by forming regular microfibrils, while the mesocarp surface is irregular. Based on the analysis, it can be concluded that OPEFB fibers are more suitable to be used as raw material for nanocrystalline cellulose than mesocarp fibers.

Surface-treated oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber improved tensile strength and water resistance of wheat gluten-based bioplastic

This study evaluated the morphology, chemical composition and color parameters of oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fiber after surface treatment with hot water (90 °C) and alkali treatments (1 w/v% and 5 w/v% NaOH). Treatment of the fiber with a 5 w/v% solution of NaOH more effectively eliminated residual surface contaminants than hot water treatment and alkaline treatment with 1 w/v% NaOH. However, color parameters were slightly reduced. The tensile strength and water absorption of composites of wheat gluten and surface-modified fiber were compared with the same properties of composites loaded with unmodified fiber. The highest tensile strength and lowest water absorption were obtained with a composite of wheat gluten and 15 wt% OPEFB fiber treated with 5 w/v% NaOH. The good adhesion between the fiber and the wheat gluten matrix enabled a more effective transfer of stress from the wheat gluten matrix to the fiber and also reduced water absorption into the wheat gluten matrix. Therefore, composites of wheat gluten and oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber have potential to be developed for use as green composite materials.