Isolation Of Microcrystalline Cellulose From Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Bleached Pulp: Statistical Optimization Of Acid Hydrolysis And Characterization
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Date
2018-09
Authors
Tuan Muhamad Hassan Tuan Hamzah
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
The optimization the acid hydrolysis process parameters condition for the production of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) from oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) evaluated by using response surface methodology via central composite design. The OPEFB was first subjected to the environmental friendly pulping and bleaching sequence for the production of total chlorine free pulp prior to the acid hydrolysis process. Meanwhile for the optimization, a set of experiment was performed using three different factors which are time, temperature and acid concentration were carried out. The range of 10 to 30 min, 80 to 130 ºC and 1.5 to 3.5 N have been used for the variable. Meanwhile, yield %, thermal stability and crystallinity index of the resultant OPEFB-MCC were evaluated as the responses and were compared with the predicted values. Based on the optimization process conditions for MCC production were at hydrolysis time= 20 min, temperature= 106 ºC and acid concentration= 2.5 N, respectively. The OPEFB-MCC with high yield (92.2 %), good thermal stability (335.33 ºC) and crystallinity index (72.88 %) were obtained through this condition. The resultant OPEFB-MCC from optimized condition was then characterized by means of morphological, physiccochemical, crystallinity index and thermal study by using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer–Emett–Teller (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The FTIR spectra showed that the pulping and bleaching sequence used were able to remove lignin and hemicellulose component inside OPEFB. This proven by the disappearance of peak at 1514 cm-1 for lignin and 1735 cm-1 for hemicellulose in the TCF pulp as compared to OPEFB. The morphological structure however, get effected the surface morphology of OPEFB MCC under SEM observation showed that OPEFB-MCC rough and compact structure after the acid hydrolysis process. Interesting to note that, form BET analysis MCC displayed mesopores size (2.22 nm) of porous structure. From XRD analysis revealed that the crystallinity index was increased (43.14 %) after acid hydrolysis starting material OPEFB to resultant OPEFB-MCC. The optimum condition of OPEFB-MCC shows the highest crystallinity index as compared to other condition which is 72.88 %. The TGA showed that the obtained OPEFB-MCC at optimum condition displayed a better thermal stability at T20%, T50% as well as Tmax at 334.66 ºC, 341.83 ºC and 350 ºC respectively as compared to other condition. Overall, it can be concluded that the hydrolysis process at 20 min at 106 ºC using 2.5 N acids is the ideal condition for production of OPEFB-MCC with high yield, crystallinity and better thermal stability. The obtained OPEFB-MCC from this optimum condition has a potential to be used as a reinforcement filler for the production of green composite material.
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Keywords
Palm oil , Hydrolysis