Extraction and preparation of cellulose Nitrate from oil palm empty fruit bunch

Oil palm empty fruit bunch is one of the agricultural waste that have potential in the production of renewable resource like cellulose. Cellulose was extracted from oil palm empty fruit bunches using alkali treatment and bleaching process to remove hemicellulose and lignin. Preparation of cellulose nitrate were treated with 98% sulphuric acid and 65% nitric acid using nitration process which involved alternate alkaline and chlorination treatment to remove non-cellulosic constituents. The commercial cellulose, extracted cellulose and cellulose nitrate were analyzed using x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The cellulose nitrate was amorphous based on the broad spectrum of the peak and lower crystallinity index. There was a changing in the functional group of O-H group to the N-O group at the end of the peak based on the nitration process. The morphology of samples shows rough surface of the extracted cellulose and cellulose nitrate. The extracted cellulose was more thermally stable than cellulose nitrate in term of thermal properties. Results from this work may be potentially applied in various fields such as coating, membrane filter, film, propellant and manufacture of laboratory equipment and devices.