Ball milling isolation and characterization of nanocrystalline cellulose from microcrystalline cellulose derived from oil palm empty fruit bunches / Nafsiyah Mahshim

Nafsiyah , Mahshim (2024) Ball milling isolation and characterization of nanocrystalline cellulose from microcrystalline cellulose derived from oil palm empty fruit bunches / Nafsiyah Mahshim. Masters thesis, Universiti Malaya.

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Abstract

This study investigates the production and characterization of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) from microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) derived from oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) using high-energy ball milling. The objective was to explore the feasibility of utilizing NCC from OPEFB for dental applications. The isolation process was conducted at room temperature with a ball milling speed of 1500 rpm and a specific ball-to-powder weight ratio, employing stainless-steel balls of 7.0 mm, 5.0 mm, and 2.0 mm. Characterization techniques included Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Particle Size Distribution (PSD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). FESEM analysis confirmed size reduction of cellulose particles. PSD results showed that MCC had an average particle size of 913.7 nm with uniform distribution, while dry NCC had a bimodal distribution averaging 123.1 nm. Wet NCC, in contrast, exhibited a narrower and more uniform size distribution, averaging 793.8 nm. FTIR spectroscopy indicated that the chemical structure of cellulose remained unaltered post-milling, and XRD analysis confirmed increased crystallinity, particularly for wet-milled NCC. The findings suggest that wet ball milling is more effective in producing high-quality NCC with consistent particle size and enhanced crystallinity, supporting its potential application in dental materials. This research highlights the sustainable use of agricultural byproducts for creating value-added products suitable for industrial and dental applications.

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