Authors: Rudi Dungani Abdulwahab F Owolabi Chaturbhuj K Saurabh H P S Abdul Khalil Paridah M Tahir C I C M Hazwan Kamoldeen A Ajijolakewu M M Masri E Rosamah P Aditiawati
Publish Date: 2016/10/05
Volume: 25, Issue: 3, Pages: 692-700
Abstract
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 αcellulose percentage of fibers as confirmed by Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry standards Transmission electron microscopy TEM Xray 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 744 ± 017 nm and 1653 ± 352 respectively making it suitable as a reinforcing material for nanocompositeThe 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 RUI1001/PTEKIND/814255
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