Abstract
In the present study, chemical-physical properties of nanofibers isolated from rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis) and empty fruit bunches (EFB) of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) were analyzed by microscopic, spectroscopic, thermal and X-ray diffraction methods. The isolation was achieved using chemo-mechanical processes. Microscopy study showed that the diameters of the nanofibers isolated from the EFB ranged from 5 to 40 nm while those of the nanofibers isolated from rubberwood had a wider range (10–90 nm). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy study demonstrated that almost all the lignin and most of the hemicellulose were removed during the chemical treatments. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the crystallinity of the studied nanofibers increased after the chemo-mechanical isolation process. The results of thermogravimetric analysis showed that the nanofibers isolated from both sources had higher thermal stability than those of the bleached pulp and untreated fibers.
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The authors are grateful to the Ministry of Plantation Industry and Commodity (MPIC), the Government of Malaysia, for their generous funding of this research.
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Jonoobi, M., Khazaeian, A., Tahir, P.M. et al. Characteristics of cellulose nanofibers isolated from rubberwood and empty fruit bunches of oil palm using chemo-mechanical process. Cellulose 18, 1085–1095 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-011-9546-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-011-9546-7