Extraction and Characterization of Nanocellulose from Raw Oil Palm Leaves (Elaeis guineensis)

The high surface area, lightweight and excellent biocompatibility of nanocellulose (NC) have resulted in its wide application as a bio-based reinforcement agent. In this study, raw oil palm fronds leaves (OPFL) were used as the cellulose source to prepare NC. Successive treatments of raw OPFL with bleach, alkali and acid yielded NC in a form of white powder. X-ray diffraction, transmission and field emission scanning electron micrographs showed that the isolated NC formed crystalline needlelike structures with diameters ranging between 10 and 30 nm. The crystallinity index of NC was 45.5%, greater than raw OPFL (25.3%) and cellulose (30.5%). The AFM micrographs showed that the NC exhibited a root-mean-square roughness of 9.146 nm. FTIR-ATR spectra revealed the disappearance of a C=O peak at 1732 cm−1 with the absence of impurities, while the EDX spectrum further affirmed that lignin and hemicellulose were successfully eliminated. BET surface area of NC (5.108 m2/g) was found higher than cellulose (1.4526 m2/g). The TGA data revealed that NC decomposed between 120 and 450 °C, with an 80% mass loss that corresponded to sulfate groups (O–SO3). In short, the nanometer dimensions of NC extracted from raw OPFL implied its promising applications as a reinforcing agent for improving mechanical properties of nanocomposites.