Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Jianlei Yang, Yern Chee Ching, Cheng Hock Chuah, Nguyen Dai Hai, Ramesh Singh, Abidi Rahima Md Nor
Summary: The present paper investigates the preparation and characterization of starch-based bioplastic composites reinforced by treated oil palm empty fruit bunch fibers and citric acid. The results show that the addition of fibers and citric acid significantly affects the mechanical, thermal, and water resistance properties of the composites.
Article
Materials Science, Composites
Mohd Khairul Faizi Abdul Rahman, Mohd Shukry Abdul Majid, Shahriman Abu Bakar, Shamsul Bahri Md Tamrin, Haris Ahmad Israr Ahmad, Yee Guan Ng, Zuradzman Mohamad Razlan
Summary: In this study, the energy absorption characteristics of oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB)-reinforced composites were investigated using a low-velocity impact test. Two sets of specimens with different fiber/epoxy fractions (30:70 and 40:60) were analyzed, with one set treated with a 3% NaOH solution. The results showed that the untreated specimens absorbed more energy but suffered severe damage compared to the treated specimens, indicating that the treatment improved the interlocking mechanism and energy dissipation. Additionally, composites with a higher fiber loading exhibited slightly better energy absorption.
JOURNAL OF REINFORCED PLASTICS AND COMPOSITES
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Composites
Alex Dario Aguilar, Katherine Tenemaza, Vladimir Valle, Carlos Bastidas-Caldes, Cristina E. Almeida-Naranjo, Paola Gutierrez
Summary: The variability of fiber length has a significant impact on the performance of natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites (NFRPCs). This study consists of two stages, examining the effect of fiber length distribution and processing temperature on material properties, and analyzing the influence of fiber length distribution on material performance under accelerated weathering tests. Key results indicate that high temperatures result in phase incompatibility between components, longer fiber lengths lead to lower elongation-at-break values, and exposure to UV radiation and salt fog significantly affect the material properties.
POLYMER COMPOSITES
(2023)
Review
Construction & Building Technology
Nor Azlina Ramlee, Jesuarockiam Naveen, Mohammad Jawaid
Summary: In Malaysia, a majority of household electricity is used for air conditioning, highlighting the importance of selecting a thermal wall insulator with low thermal conductivity to reduce energy consumption. Utilizing agro waste based thermal insulation materials is an efficient and economical method for energy efficient building.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Hironaga Akita, Mohd Zulkhairi Mohd Yusoff, Shinji Fujimoto
Summary: The study focused on preparing hydrolysate from OPEFB through hydrothermal treatment, with hemicellulose yield decreasing from 153 mg/g-OPEFB to 27.5 mg/g-OPEFB as the temperature increased from 180 to 200 degrees C. The highest glucose yield was obtained from the enzyme-treated solid phase after hydrothermal treatment at 200 degrees C.
FERMENTATION-BASEL
(2021)
Review
Agronomy
Jin Wern Lai, Hafiz Rashidi Ramli, Luthffi Idzhar Ismail, Wan Zuha Wan Hasan
Summary: The labour shortage problem in the Malaysian palm oil industry has led to the exploration of using autonomous robots for harvesting oil palm fresh fruit bunches (FFBs). This study reviews previous and current methods of identifying the maturity of FFBs and compares them in terms of sample data, sensor modalities, and classifiers. The combination of computer vision and deep learning is found to be the most feasible method for detecting ripe FFBs in the field, offering advantages such as noncontact operation, low cost, and real-time high accuracy.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Benyathip Yimlamai, Wanna Choorit, Yusuf Chisti, Poonsuk Prasertsan
Summary: This study successfully recovered cellulose from oil palm empty fruit bunch fibers and converted it into water-soluble CMC. Through a two-step process, 91.5% of lignin in the original EFB fibers was removed. The prepared CMC had a degree of substitution of 0.16 and a water solubility of 6.8 g L-1 at 30 degrees C.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Cristina E. Almeida-Naranjo, Vladimir Valle, Alex Aguilar, Francisco Cadena, Jeronimo Kreiker, Belen Raggiotti
Summary: The use of oil palm wastes for sustainable polymer matrix composites has gained interest in recent years. This study evaluated the water absorption behavior of acrylic thermoplastic matrix composites reinforced with oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) and oil palm kernel shell (OPKS) through immersion test. The results showed that water absorption capacity decreased at higher processing temperatures and larger particle sizes. The type of reinforcement also influenced water absorption and diffusivity. OPKS/acrylic and OPEFB/acrylic composites had a maximum absorption of 77% and 86%, with diffusivities of 7.3 x 10(-9) and 15.2 x 10(-9) m(2)/min, respectively. Experimental evidence suggested a non-Fickian absorption mechanism for the composites.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yon Sin Chan, Yu Xuan Teo, Darwin Gouwanda, Surya Girinatha Nurzaman, Alpha Agape Gopalai, Subbiah Thannirmalai
Summary: This study aims to create and evaluate a musculoskeletal model of oil palm harvesting motion, assessing the associated risk of Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD). The primary muscles relied on during harvesting were found to be the longissimus, iliocostalis, and rectus abdominis. Harvesters were at higher risk of MSD during back flexion and back rotation.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Tat-Ming Lo, In Young Hwang, Han-Saem Cho, Raissa Eka Fedora, Si Hui Chng, Won Jae Choi, Matthew Wook Chang
Summary: This study successfully engineered microbial hosts to directly utilize OPEFB lignin mixtures to produce commodity chemicals, demonstrating a simple one-pot biosynthesis approach that utilizes derivatives of agricultural waste.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Pei Ling Tang, Wai Lun Hong, Chen Son Yue, Shuhaida Harun
Summary: This study investigates the use of palm oil mill effluent (POME) as a solvent to extract lignin and phenolics from oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber (OPEFBF). Results show that POME containing 5% w/w NaOH is the best solvent, producing the highest yield of lignin and phenolics. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) of the solvent increases after treatment but decreases significantly after lignin precipitation.
BIOMASS CONVERSION AND BIOREFINERY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Kinanthi Mondylaksita, Jorge A. Ferreira, Wiratni Budhijanto, Claes Niklasson, Mohammad J. Taherzadeh, Ria Millati
Summary: The study demonstrates that high yields of volatile fatty acids can be obtained through fermentation of oil palm empty fruit bunch pretreatment products under conditions that inhibit methanogenesis, especially in a medium containing a mixture of glucan-rich and hemicellulosic compounds-rich fractions.
FERMENTATION-BASEL
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Xing Wan, Yang Ping, Jun Li
Summary: Using EFB to produce SCMP and treating it with ozone can reduce surface lignin content in pulp, improve the physical and optical properties of handsheets significantly, and enhance the performance of SCMP efficiently.
Article
Polymer Science
Mohd Zaim Jaafar, Farah Fazlina Mohd Ridzuan, Mohamad Haafiz Mohamad Kassim, Falah Abu
Summary: All-cellulose composite (ACC) films were successfully fabricated using oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFBs) through the selective dissolution of cellulose fibers. The properties of the ACC films were assessed based on the dissolution time. The results showed improved interfacial adhesion and mechanical properties, decreased crystallite size and degree of crystallinity, and changing failure behavior of the film composite.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Zainab Rathamat, Wanna Choorit, Yusuf Chisti, Poonsuk Prasertsan
Summary: Hemicellulose was successfully recovered from oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber and used to produce xylooligosaccharides prebiotics, with optimized conditions of sequential peracetic acid and alkaline peroxide treatments. The enriched hemicellulose yield was achieved through Taguchi experimental design.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2021)