Reusability of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches (EFB) Waste with Tapioca Starch for Polymer-Based Agriculture Application: A Preliminary Study

Abstract The existence of oil palm wastes has caused a significant disposal challenge, and it contains high fibre that is hard to disintegrate. Empty fruit bunches (EFB) contributes approximately 24 weights (wt.) % solid waste in industries cellulose content. This study aims find the best combination ratio EFB fine (EFBF) tapioca starch for polymer production (EFBT) its characterisation. was collected from Southern Malay Palm Oil Mill at Simpang Renggam, Johor, shredded using an industrial grinder. EFBF (TS) combined water microwave heating according generated Response Surface Methodology (RSM), end homogenous pellet obtained then analysed Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) while raw Field Emission - Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (FESEM-EDS). SEM analysis shows increasing interaction with less void represented by respective TS ratios 1:9, 1:5, 5:9, 5:5, 9:5, 5:1 9:1. highest contact angle recorded 88.53° 1:9 followed 40.35° no 5:1, 5:9 9:1 ratios. fastest rate disintegration 2712.000 g/day, slowest 1.206 g/day. ANOVA as p-values were <0.05, not p-value >0.05. However, although both models are unable project optimised values further testing, this did provide baseline range selection future RSM optimisation TS.