Synthesis and Characterization of Carboxymethyl Cellulose Derived from Empty Fruit Bunch

Oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB), a cellulose rich lignocellulosic biomass has huge potential to be utilised as raw material for the synthesis of carboxymethyl (CMC). In this study, CMC was synthesised from EFB extracted at optimum carboxymethylation reaction conditions. The yield obtained by alkaline treatment followed bleaching with hydrogen peroxide 45.5 wt.%. structure elucidated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns. Meanwhile, characterised FT-IR, XRD scanning electron microscopy (SEM). maximum degree substitution (DS) 1.30 177.51 wt.% purity 89% determined chemical methods conditions 30 NaOH, 18 g SMCA, 65 °C, 3 h time less than 75 μm EFB-cellulose particle size. inferred low crystallinity while FTIR spectra verified presence different functional groups. results DS work were considerably higher those reported in literature. can further various industries such detergent, mining, flotation, oil gas drilling muds applications.