Development of biocomposites from poly (lactic acid) and oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber

The primary objective of this research was to develop fully biodegradable composite material based on poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fiber. However, the incompatibility between PLA and OPEFB fibers lead to poor fiber-matrix adhesion resulted in subpar composites perfo...

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Main Author:	Rayung, Marwah
Format:	Thesis
Language:	English
Published:	2014
Subjects:	Biochemistry Oil palm Biodegradation
Online Access:	http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/70551/1/FS%202014%2074%20-%20IR.pdf
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spelling	my-upm-ir.705512019-10-30T01:09:22Z Development of biocomposites from poly (lactic acid) and oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber 2014-10 Rayung, Marwah The primary objective of this research was to develop fully biodegradable composite material based on poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fiber. However, the incompatibility between PLA and OPEFB fibers lead to poor fiber-matrix adhesion resulted in subpar composites performance. In addition, a typical hybridization of natural fiber/polymer matrix produced dark brown colour of product, a factor that limits its applications. Therefore, efforts had been made to treat the fibers by means of alkaline bleaching by using hydrogen peroxide to remove lignin, hemicellulose and surface impurities. The removal of these components is important to enhance the fiber/matrix interlocking system simultaneously increase the brightness of the composites. From the experimental studies, the optimum condition for bleaching process was obtained at pH 11, 70 °C for 90 minutes. Basically, the bleaching process produced brighter colour fiber with rougher surface as can be observed from Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The Infrared (IR) spectra confirmed the removal of lignin and hemicellulose, while X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) result showed a change in fiber crystallinity from 36.8% to 60.6% after bleaching process due to the removal of these amorphous components. The biocomposites were prepared by mixing PLA with the treated and untreated fiber at different ratio by using internal mixer at temperature 160 °C and 50 rpm. A bright colour biocomposites was successfully produced by using bleached fiber and the addition of colorant improved the appearance. The mechanical properties for bleached fiber biocomposites showed an improvement indicating better fiber-matrix adhesion which is proved by SEM micrographs. Thermal analysis study showed the composites have lower thermal stability compare to neat PLA itself. Water absorption study demonstrated the bleached fiber biocomposite was more water resistance compare to the untreated fiber. At 50% fiber loading, water uptake for bleached fiber biocomposites was recorded at 14.3% whereas 18.7% for untreated fiber biocomposites. Biodegradable study revealed with the addition of fiber into PLA increased the biodegradation rate of the biocomposites. As a matter of fact, the degradation increased because the fiber is more susceptible to microbial attacked, therefore the addition of fiber helps to accelerate the degradation of biocomposites. Besides, treatment of fiber increased the degradation from 6% to 9% after three months burial time. Conclusively, these results supported the role of PLA/OPEFB as environmental friendly composite and showed a great potential as an alternative to the non-biodegradable plastic. Biochemistry Oil palm Biodegradation 2014-10 Thesis http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/70551/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/70551/1/FS%202014%2074%20-%20IR.pdf text en public masters Universiti Putra Malaysia Biochemistry Oil palm Biodegradation
institution	Universiti Putra Malaysia
collection	PSAS Institutional Repository
language	English
topic	Biochemistry Oil palm Biodegradation
spellingShingle	Biochemistry Oil palm Biodegradation Rayung, Marwah Development of biocomposites from poly (lactic acid) and oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber
description	The primary objective of this research was to develop fully biodegradable composite material based on poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fiber. However, the incompatibility between PLA and OPEFB fibers lead to poor fiber-matrix adhesion resulted in subpar composites performance. In addition, a typical hybridization of natural fiber/polymer matrix produced dark brown colour of product, a factor that limits its applications. Therefore, efforts had been made to treat the fibers by means of alkaline bleaching by using hydrogen peroxide to remove lignin, hemicellulose and surface impurities. The removal of these components is important to enhance the fiber/matrix interlocking system simultaneously increase the brightness of the composites. From the experimental studies, the optimum condition for bleaching process was obtained at pH 11, 70 °C for 90 minutes. Basically, the bleaching process produced brighter colour fiber with rougher surface as can be observed from Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The Infrared (IR) spectra confirmed the removal of lignin and hemicellulose, while X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) result showed a change in fiber crystallinity from 36.8% to 60.6% after bleaching process due to the removal of these amorphous components. The biocomposites were prepared by mixing PLA with the treated and untreated fiber at different ratio by using internal mixer at temperature 160 °C and 50 rpm. A bright colour biocomposites was successfully produced by using bleached fiber and the addition of colorant improved the appearance. The mechanical properties for bleached fiber biocomposites showed an improvement indicating better fiber-matrix adhesion which is proved by SEM micrographs. Thermal analysis study showed the composites have lower thermal stability compare to neat PLA itself. Water absorption study demonstrated the bleached fiber biocomposite was more water resistance compare to the untreated fiber. At 50% fiber loading, water uptake for bleached fiber biocomposites was recorded at 14.3% whereas 18.7% for untreated fiber biocomposites. Biodegradable study revealed with the addition of fiber into PLA increased the biodegradation rate of the biocomposites. As a matter of fact, the degradation increased because the fiber is more susceptible to microbial attacked, therefore the addition of fiber helps to accelerate the degradation of biocomposites. Besides, treatment of fiber increased the degradation from 6% to 9% after three months burial time. Conclusively, these results supported the role of PLA/OPEFB as environmental friendly composite and showed a great potential as an alternative to the non-biodegradable plastic.
format	Thesis
qualification_level	Master's degree
author	Rayung, Marwah
author_facet	Rayung, Marwah
author_sort	Rayung, Marwah
title	Development of biocomposites from poly (lactic acid) and oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber
title_short	Development of biocomposites from poly (lactic acid) and oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber
title_full	Development of biocomposites from poly (lactic acid) and oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber
title_fullStr	Development of biocomposites from poly (lactic acid) and oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber
title_full_unstemmed	Development of biocomposites from poly (lactic acid) and oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber
title_sort	development of biocomposites from poly (lactic acid) and oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber
granting_institution	Universiti Putra Malaysia
publishDate	2014
url	http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/70551/1/FS%202014%2074%20-%20IR.pdf
_version_	1747812865458307072

Development of biocomposites from poly (lactic acid) and oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber

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