Characterization of cellulose from microwave extracted mesocarp fibre: article / Nur Illya Aqinnah Zulkefli

This study was focused to determine and compare the cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and extractive content of microwave assisted oil palm mesocarp fibre (OPMF). The sample preparation of the oil palm mesocarp fiber was divided into two parts which is microwave assisted sterilization and cum extraction. The chemical analysis will be used to characterize the cellulose will follow the TAPPI standard method. The highest cellulose content obtained is for OPMF is where power level of microwave used is 600 W with irradiation time for 6 minutes while the optimum power level that produced the highest cellulose content of 67.43% at constant power 300W is for 25 minutes. Hemicellulose content was reduced in the range of 30% to 40% compared to the untreated oil palm mesocarp fibre, which is 41.29%. The optimum pretreatment condition for microwave-assisted sterilization in removing optimum lignin content is at 400W for 30 minutes. Higher lignin content is not desirable as lignin acts as a barrier for any solutions by involving both hemicelluloses and cellulose. Only small amount of extractive content reduced in the range of 3% to 4%. The highest extractive content is reduced from 4.45% to 3.45% with 1:0.5 fruit to water is at 800W for 6 minutes. Higher amount of extractive also contributes to poor quality in chemical and mechanical pulping. Removal of extractive is effective with optimum temperature 300W microwave power and prolong irradiation time.