Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 20 No 5 (2016): 1095 - 1103

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/mjas-2016-2005-15

 

 

 

THERMAL BEHAVIORS OF OIL PALM EMPTY FRUIT BUNCH FIBER UPON EXPOSURE TO ACID-BASE AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS

 

(Perilaku Terma Serabut Tandan Kosong Sawit Selepas Rawatan Larutan Akueus Asid-Alkali)

 

Nur Syakilla Hassan¹ and Khairiah Haji Badri^1,2*

 

¹School of Chemical Sciences and Food Technolog, Faculty of Science and Technology

²Polymer Research Center, Faculty of Science and Technology

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

 

*Corresponding author: kaybadri@ukm.edu.my

 

 

Received: 10 June 2015; Accepted: 21 July 2016

 

 

Abstract

The effect of chemical treatment on the chemical composition, functional group, crystallinity and thermal stability of palm oil empty fruit bunch (EFB) fiber were investigated. Chemical treatment was conducted by treating EFB with 10% sodium hydroxide aqueous solution and 2% hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution separately. The results indicated that chemical treatment managed to affect chemical composition of the fiber. FTIR analysis proved the removing of hemicellulose and lignin during the treatment based on the peak disappearance around 1700 cm^-1 and 1600 cm^-1. The XRD diffractogram showed an increase in crystallinity index of the fiber especially for NaOH treatment. Removal the amorphous component of the fiber influences the thermal degradation of the fiber.

 

Keywords:  empty fruit bunch, chemical treatment, thermal properties

 

Abstrak

Kajian ke atas serabut tandan kosong sawit (EFB) telah dijalankan untuk melihat kesan rawatan kimia terhadap komposisi serabut, kumpulan berfungsi, kehabluran dan kestabilan terma serabut. EFB telah menjalani rawatan kimia menggunakan 10% larutan akues natrium hidroksida dan 2% larutan akues hidrogen peroksida secara berasingan. Hasil kajian menunjukkan rawatan kimia memberi kesan terhadap komposisi kimia serabut. Melalui analisis spektroskopi FTIR, penyingkiran hemiselulosa dan lignin telah berlaku semasa rawatan dijalankan. Keadaan ini dibuktikan melalui kehilangan puncak serapan sekitar 1700 cm^-1 dan 1600 cm^-1. Difraktogram XRD pula menunjukkan peningkatan dalam indek kehabluran bagi serabut yang menjalani rawatan NaOH.  Penyingkiran komponen amorfus didapati mempengaruhi degradasi terma serabut EFB.

 

Kata Kunci:  tandan kosong sawit, rawatan kimia, sifat terma

 

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