Properties of Chemically Treated Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) Fibres

Zawawi Ibrahim; Mansur Ahmad; Astimar Abdul Aziz; Ridzuan Ramli; Kamarudin Hassan; Aisyah Humaira Alias

Authors

Zawawi Ibrahim Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), Biomass Technology Centre, Engineering and Processing Division, Jalan Sekolah, Pekan Bangi Lama, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
Mansur Ahmad Faculty of Applied Science, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40400 Shah Alam Selangor, Malaysia
Astimar Abdul Aziz Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), Biomass Technology Centre, Engineering and Processing Division, Jalan Sekolah, Pekan Bangi Lama, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
Ridzuan Ramli Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), Biomass Technology Centre, Engineering and Processing Division, Jalan Sekolah, Pekan Bangi Lama, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
Kamarudin Hassan Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), Biomass Technology Centre, Engineering and Processing Division, Jalan Sekolah, Pekan Bangi Lama, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
Aisyah Humaira Alias Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Product (INTROP), Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

Keywords:

Sodium hydroxide (NaOH), Acetic acid, Silica bodies, Fibre surface, Tensile strength, Chemical composition, Fibre morphology

Abstract

Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) fibres have been used in the production of many types of bio-composites, such as fibreboards and fibre-reinforced plastic composite. Hence, the understanding of the EFB characteristic is very important in determining the quality of the products. In this study, the physical, mechanical, anatomical and surface properties of the EFB fibres have been analysed, and the properties of two types of treated EFB fibres; 1) alkaline treated fibre, and 2) acid treated fibres were investigated. The fibres were treated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and acetic acid at different concentration levels (0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8%). The effects of the treatments towards the physical, chemical, mechanical and anatomical properties of EFB fibre after they were subjected to thermo-mechanical pulping (TMP) were studied along with the chemical composition, tensile strength and fibre morphology of the treated fibres. The results from the study indicated that the concentration levels of both NaOH and acetic acid had influenced the fibre properties.