Turning waste to wealth: Nano activated palm kernel shell from oil palm industry as a feedstock for sustainable bio-filler production / Muhamad Haziq Mohd Fadzli, Siti Nur Liyana Mamauod and Nahrul Hayawin Zainal

Malaysia generates a significant quantity of oil palm wastes such as palm kernel shell (PKS) and empty fruit bunch (EFB). These wastes cause pollution and have a negative effect on the environment. Conversion of PKS into activated palm kernel shell (APKS) could change the performance of PKS to a value-added additive. APKS was transformed into nano particle size and the potential of nano-APKS as a sustainable bio-filler was investigated in this research. Different loadings of n-APKS ranging from 0 phr to 10 phr were incorporated in natural rubber (NR) and several testings were conducted such as swelling, hardness, compression set and abrasion resistance. Nano-activated palm kernel shell filled NR compounds were prepared using a two-roll mill. The incorporation of n-APKS in NR matrix has increased the crosslink density by referring to the lower swelling index and compression set values, hardness and ARI. The overall mechanical properties were enhanced due to the homogeneous dispersion and better mechanical interlocking between n-APKS and NR phases until the optimum n-APKS loading which was 5 phr (F4).