OIL PALM NANOCELLULOSE POTENTIAL (PART 1)

OIL PALM (Elaeis guineensis) is among important commodity in Malaysia since long ago. Currently there are more than 1.4 million hectare of oil palm grown in Malaysia as one of the largest palm oil producers in the world. However, the Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch (OPEFB) is considered the cheapest natural fiber with good properties and exists abundantly in Malaysia. It has great potential as an alternative main raw material to substitute woody plants as an important industry. Currently it was told that the well-known Polymeric Hydrogel has gathered a lot of interest due to its three-dimensional (3D) cross-linked network with high porosity. However, for some issues regarding its performance such as poor interfacial connectivity and mechanical strength have been raised so that nanocellulose has been introduced. In some research done by many local institutions in which the plantation of oil palm in Malaysia is discussed to show the potential of OPEFB as a nanocellulose material in hydrogel production is potentially develop. Nanocellulose can be categorized into three nano-structured celluloses in which it differs in the processing method. The most popular nanocellulose hydrogel processing methods are in few techniques. The 3D printing method is taking the lead in current hydrogel production due to its high complexity and the need for hygiene products. Some of the latest advanced applications are used to show the high approach of commercialization potential of nanocellulose hydrogel products. There are challenges and future direction of nanocellulose hydrogel. OPEFB claimed has met the requirements of the marketplace and product value chains as nanocellulose raw materials in many ways for the hydrogel applications. This article at "Anim Agriculture Technology" I am happy to discuss about the potential of the oil palm nanocellulose hydrogel for implementation in Malaysia for the future and reading purposes.

Lignocellulosic biomass material (LBM) is classified as a natural, non-toxic, abundant, sustainable, and renewable material. It is available either from woody or non-woody plants and is mainly composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. More than 198 billion metric tons of LBMs are produced annually, and it has a great advantage as a cheap and highly available feedstock for numerous applications. Cellulose is the most abundant biopolymer that has a great potential to be developed in large scale commercial processes with a low selling price. Recently, there has been a resurgence in demand to utilize cellulose for the production of advanced materials, which will undoubtedly become an important key in future bioeconomy. Some common LBMs, also known as agriculture waste, have been used for producing high-end products such as jute, ramie, hemp, kenaf, bamboo, and oil palm. Malaysia is a well-endowed country with oil palm and is the second largest producer after Indonesia, contributing more than 80% of the world production. Oil palm is the most cultivated plant in Malaysia, with approximately 5.4 million hectares of plantation area and about 423 palm oil mills are operating in the country. The huge plantation areas as well as tremendous amount of palm oil mills have caused Malaysia to be listed as the world’s top palm oil exporter for numerous palm oil products. In line with this, large biomass production occurs with around 90% from the remaining 10% oil extraction that come from two main sources: plantations and mills. An enormous number of oil palm trunks and fronds are generated from plantations. Meanwhile, other biomasses like mesocarp fiber, kernel shell, and empty fruit bunches come from the milling process of fresh fruit bunches. In Malaysia, oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) up to 22 - 23 million tons is abundantly generated as a residue annually. As a non-wood fiber, OPEFB is considered as the cheapest natural fiber with good properties and has great potential as an alternative main raw material to substitute woody plants, which are expensive for various industries. This article is a compilation from various resources. Thanks...

By,

M Anem,

Putrajaya,

Malaysia.

November 2022.