Journal of Oil Palm Research Vol. 18 December 2006, p. 272-277
THERMAL PROPERTIES OF OIL PALM FIBRE, CELLULOSE AND ITS DERIVATIVES
ABSTRACT
Oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) are abundantly produced in palm oil mills from processing the fresh fruit bunches. Holecellulose, a composite of hemicelluloses and cellulose, was extracted from EFB using acidfied sodium chlorite method. The x-cellulose was then separated from the holocellulose using 17.5% sodium hydroxide solution. Sodium carboxymethylcellulose (Na CMC) was synthesized from the x-cellulose by etherification with chloroacetic acid
KEYWORDS:* Malaysian Palm Oil Board,
P. O. Box 10620,
50720 Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia.
E-mail: msrosnah@mpob.gov.my