Nanocellulose sheets from oil palm empty fruit bunches treated with NaOH solution

摘要

The objective of this study is to produce nanocellulose sheets from oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFBs). Nanocellulose sheets from OPEFBs were prepared through the dewatering process using vacuum filtration. Subsequently, the produced sheets were treated with NaOH solution to improve the mechanical stability of their structure, causing them to be firm in water. The water absorption of nanocellulose sheet increased with increasing NaOH concentrations up to 20 wt%, increasing tensile strength, and Young’s modulus, but decreased when they were treated with 30 wt%. The diameter shrinkage of nanocellulose sheets was directly proportional to the NaOH concentration and soaking time. The images of scanning electron microscope show that the porous structure of the nanocellulose sheets appeared swollen when using NaOH. NaOH treatment above 10 wt% could change the crystalline form from cellulose I to cellulose II. The tensile strength and Young’s modulus of nanocellulose sheets could improve with NaOH treatment. The optimum tensile strength and Young’s modulus were achieved in a six-hour immersion process with 20 wt% NaOH.