ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE FROM OIL PALM FRONDS USING CHEMOMECHANICAL PROCESS

摘要

This study investigates the characteristic of the microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) isolated from oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) fronds using acid hydrolysis method. The morphology and size of the MCC were characterized using both Scherrer equations for X-ray diffraction (XRD) result and transmission electron microscopy. The thermal stability of MCC was determined from thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) profiles, whereas Fourier transform IR (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to analyze the chemical modifications that occurred under these conditions. The XRD results showed that the MCC isolated from oil palm fronds (OPF-MCC) fibers had an average diameter and crystallinity index of 12.15 nm and 60.1%, respectively. Both FTIR spectroscopy and XRD indicated that lignin and hemicellulose contents decreased, whereas the cellulose-I polymorph remained constant. TGA revealed that OPF-MCC had higher thermal stability compared with the OPF fibers. The study revealed the potential applications of the MCC isolated from the oil palm biomass as green reinforcement and/or fillers in the production of biodegradable biocomposite.