Preparation and Fundamental Characterization of Cellulose Nanocrystal from Oil Palm Fronds Biomass
Dungani R.a, Owolabi A.F.b,c, Saurabh C.K.b, Abdul Khalil H.P.S.b,d, Tahir P.M.d, Hazwan C.I.C.M.b, Ajijolakewu K.A.b,c,e, Masri M.M.b, Rosamah E.f, Aditiawati P.a
a School of Life Sciences and Technology, Gandung Labtex XI, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung, Indonesia
b School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, 11800, Malaysia
c Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi, Lagos, Nigeria
d Laboratory of Biocomposite Technology, Institute of Tropical Forestry & Forest Products, University Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
e Department of Microbiology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
f Faculty of Forestry, Mulawarman University, Samarinda, 75119, Indonesia
Abstract
© 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York.The objective of this work was to isolate cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) from oil palm fronds (Elaeis guineensis) and its subsequent characterization. Isolation involves sodium hydroxide/anthraquinone pulping with mechanical refining followed by total chlorine free bleaching (includes oxygen delignification, hydrogen peroxide oxidation and peracetic acid treatment) before acid hydrolysis. Bleaching significantly decreased kappa number and increased α-cellulose percentage of fibers as confirmed by Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry standards. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis revealed that acid hydrolysis along with bleaching improved crystallinity index and thermal stability of the extracted nanocrystals. It was observed that CNC maintained its cellulose 1 polymorph despite hydrolysis treatment. Mean diameter as observed by TEM and average fiber aspect ratio of obtained CNC was 7.44 ± 0.17 nm and 16.53 ± 3.52, respectively making it suitable as a reinforcing material for nanocomposite.
Author keywords
Cellulose nano-crystals,Cellulose nanocrystal (CNC),Hydrogen peroxide oxidations,Nanocrystalline cellulose,Oil palm frond,Oxygen delignifications,Technical association of the pulp and paper industries,Total chlorine free bleaching
Indexed keywords
Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,Nanocrystalline cellulose,Oil palm fronds,Thermal properties,Total chlorine free bleaching,X-ray diffraction
Funding details
The authors would like to thank the Universiti Sains Malaysia for the awarded Postdoctoral Fellowship. The authors are gratefully acknowledged Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia for providing Research University Grant (RUI-1001/PTEKIND/814255).