Sains Malaysiana 42(3)(2013): 307–318

Penghidroksilpropilan Serabut Tandan Kosong Kelapa Sawit  Menggunakan

Polietilena Glikol (PEG)

(Hydroxypropylation of Empty Fruit Bunches Fibre using Polyethylene glycol (PEG))

M.Z. Noreen Farzuhana & S. Zakaria*

Pusat Pengajian Fizik Gunaan, Fakulti Sains dan Teknologi, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

43600 Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Received: 27 April 2011/Accepted: 4 October 2012

ABSTRAK

Penyelidikan ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji tindak balas serabut tandan kosong kelapa sawit (EFBF) melalui kaedah modifikasi kimia dan penghidroksilpropilan menggunakan polietilena glikol (PEG). Peringkat pertama merujuk kepada tindak balas modifikasi kimia menggunakan NaOH dan isopropanol. Peringkat seterusnya adalah penyediaan hidroksilpropil-serabut tandan kosong kelapa sawit (HP-EFBF) menggunakan berat molekul PEG berbeza (6000, 8000 dan 10000). Pencirian yang terlibat dalam kajian ini adalah analisis menggunakan mikroskop elektron imbasan (SEM), spektroskopi inframerah transformasi Fourier (FTIR), analisis termogravimetri (TGA), penentuan kinetik tenaga pengaktifan (Ea), analisis pembelauan sinar-X (XRD), indeks kehabluran Selulosa (CrI) dan pertambahan berat HP-EFBF. Keputusan SEM menunjukkan morfologi permukaan HP-EFBF mula membengkak dan terdapat pembentukan lubang sepanjang permukaan gentian. Spektrum IR juga menunjukkan getaran OH dalam EFBF tanpa rawatan adalah pada 3402 cm^-1 tetapi selepas proses penghidroksilpropilan, getaran OH dalam HP-EFBF (10000, 8000 dan 6000) masing-masing sedikit teranjak kepada 3,392, 3,384 dan 3,370 cm^-1. TGA menunjukkan kestabilan terma HP-EFBF 6,000 lebih rendah berbanding HP-EFBF 8000 dan 10000. Selepas modifikasi kimia, tenaga pengaktifan, Ea meningkat daripada 32.4 kepada 51.9 kJ/mol berbanding EFBF tanpa rawatan iaitu 12.5 kJ/mol. XRD menunjukkan puncak belauan (002) teranjak kepada sudut 2θ yang lebih kecil dan puncak [(101), (10Î)] lenyap selepas proses penghidroksilpropilan. Indeks kehabluran selulosa, CrI menunjukkan kehabluran EFBF tanpa rawatan berkurang daripada 27% kepada 25% selepas modifikasi kimia. Semakin tinggi berat molekul PEG yang digunakan, semakin tinggi pertambahan berat HP-EFBF.

Kata kunci: Hidroksilpropil-EFBF; modifikasi kimia; polietilena glikol (PEG); serabut tandan kosong

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to investigate the reaction of oil palm empty fruit bunches fibre (EFBF) via chemical modification and hydroxypropylation method using polyethylene glycol (PEG). The first stage was the modification of EFB fibre using NaOH and isopropanol. The next stage was the preparation of hydroxypropylated-empty fruit bunches fibre (HP-EFBF), using different molecular weight of PEG (6000, 8000 and 10000). The characterisation involved in this study were conducted by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetry analysis (TGA), determination of kinetic activation energy (Ea), X-ray diffraction (XRD), cellulose crystallinity index (CrI) and weight increament of the HP-EFB fibre. SEM results showed the surface of HP-EFBF swelled and craters formed along the surface of the fibre. IR spectrum also showed OH stretching band in EFB without treatment is 3402 cm^-1, but after hydroxypropylation process, the OH stretching band in HP-EFBF (10000, 8000 and 6000) slightly shifted to 3,392, 3,384 and 3370 cm^-1, respectively. TGA showed the thermal stability of HP-EFBF 6,000 was lower than HP-EFBF 8,000 and 10000. After chemical modification, the activation energy, E_a increased from 32.4 to 51.9 kJ/mol more than EFB without treatment, 12.5 kJ/mol. XRD showed that diffraction peak (002) shifted to the smaller 2θ angle and the peaks (101, 10Î) disappeared after hydroxypropylation process. Crystallinity index of EFB without treatment decreased from 27% to 25% after chemical modification. The higher the molecular weight of the PEG, the greater the weight increament of the HP-EFBF.

Keywords: Chemical modification; empty fruit bunches; hydroxypropyl-EFBF; polyethylene glycol (PEG)

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*Corresponding author; email: sarani_zakaria@yahoo.com