EFFECT OF TREATMENT ON THE OIL CONTENT AND SURFACE MORPHOLOGY OF OIL PALM (ELAEIS GUINEENSIS) EMPTY FRUIT BUNCHES (EFB) FIBRES

摘要

The effect of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and acetic acid treatment at different concentration levels on the morphological structure of oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) fibres were investigated. The effects of the treatments on the surfaces of EFB fibres subjected to thermomechanical pulping (TMP) were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The residual oil content of the EFB refined fibres was also determined. The results indicated that both treatments had successfully removed the residual oil, with NaOH treatment removing more oil than acetic acid treatment. However, both treatments resulted in different surface characteristics. The acid treatment resulted in rougher fibre surface and more removal of silica bodies. Results showed that 0.4 of NaOH and 0.6 % of acetic acid were good enough to remove the oil and impurities. The acetic acid treatment led to better surfaces than NaOH.