Preparation And Characterization of Nano Fibrillated Cellulose Derived from Oil Palm Trunks Using Different Enzyme Concentrations

Abstract

Nanocellulose refers to materials derived from cellulose that are reduced to the nanoscale, typically ranging from 1 to 100 nanometres. Nanocellulose is distinguished by its large surface area, mechanical strength, and biodegradability, all of which contribute to its unique properties. However, the production process for nanocellulose is faced with challenges concerning energy efficiency, scalability, and environmental impact. Existing methods such as mechanical fibrillation and acid hydrolysis require high energy input, and excessive chemicals, and often result in low yields. This study explores the synthesis of nano fibrillated cellulose (NFC) from Oil palm trunks (OPT), a sustainable by-product of the palm oil industry. NFC was synthesized by enzyme treatment using cellulase enzyme (Trichoderma reesei) and subsequent mechanical fibrillation and high-pressure homogenization. Two NFC samples, NFC A and NFC B, were synthesized using different enzyme concentrations (0.1% and 1.0%) v/v, respectively, and compared for their chemical and physical properties. Both samples exhibited high total solid contents (95.55% for NFC A and 95.44% for NFC B), indicative of efficient processing. Characterization through Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed that increasing enzyme concentration led to smaller fibril diameters and shorter fibre lengths, with NFC B (1.0% enzyme concentration) achieving finer, more uniform fibrils compared to NFC A (0.1%). Moreover, NFC B is more stable with a lower polydispersity index (PDI = 0.405) than NFC A (PDI = 0.859). These findings recommend that the development of smaller, more stable NFC fibrils is initiated by higher cellulase concentrations and that NFC B's properties make it the better option for use in hydrogels, drug delivery, and composite materials.