https://jopr.mpob.gov.my Tue, 08 Jul 2025 02:00:44 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://jopr.mpob.gov.my/evaluation-of-laminated-panels-from-semantan-bamboo-and-oil-palm-trunks-for-sustainable-composite-manufacturing/ Tue, 08 Jul 2025 02:00:44 +0000 https://jopr.mpob.gov.my/?p=14624 The increasing demand for sustainable materials in the composite industry has driven interest in alternative non-wood resources. Among them, bamboo and oil palm biomass are recognised as potential natural fibres that can be utilised to develop eco-friendly composite materials. This study aimed to evaluate the properties of laminated panels made from Semantan bamboo crush mat and oil palm trunk (OPT) veneer with different layer configurations. Three types of laminated panels are compared in the study: A bamboo mats panel, an OPT veneers panel and a hybrid panel with veneer applied as the core layer while the mats served as surface layers. The composites were fabricated using a hot-pressed technique and urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin as a binder. The panels were tested for physical and mechanical properties and the results showed that layer configuration significantly influenced these properties. The panel consisting entirely of a bamboo mat showed the best performance, while the hybrid panel was comparable in most properties tested. On the other hand, the panel with entirely OPT veneers was inferior, suggesting that the hybrid panel would be a promising alternative to wood-based products.

]]> https://jopr.mpob.gov.my/application-of-old-oil-palm-trunks-affects-the-growth-performance-of-oil-palm-seedlings/ Thu, 20 Feb 2025 07:44:36 +0000 https://jopr.mpob.gov.my/?p=14143 Oil palm plantations generate substantial biomass waste, primarily old oil palm trunks (OPT), during replanting. As part of a sustainable plantation management program, old OPT are returned to the plantation and released nutrients into the soil for new oil palm seedlings. However, whether this method improves soil nutrient levels is unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of OPT on oil palm seedling growth and soil microbial communities. The plant height, chlorophyll content, leaf area, and biomass weight were low in seedlings grown in soil containing OPT [44.3 cm, 44, 278.9 cm2, 19.6 g (dry shoot), and 14.9 g (dry root)]. Similar results were obtained for seedlings grown in soil containing cellulose or soil containing OPT and fertiliser. Leaf nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contents were similar in seedlings grown in soil amended with OPT and control seedlings. However, the calcium content was significantly lower in seedlings grown in soil containing OPT (0.424 ± 0.004%) than in control seedlings (0.496 ± 0.006%). Metagenomic analysis of soils showed that three lignocellulose-degrading fungal genera (Chaetomium, Mortierella, and Staphylotrichum) were abundant in soil containing OPT. Thus, the return of OPT promotes the growth of lignocellulose-degrading microorganisms and decreases fertiliser nutrient availability.

]]> https://jopr.mpob.gov.my/characterisation-of-palm-pyroligneous-acid-and-its-effectiveness-as-antifungal-agent-for-oil-palm-trunk/ Fri, 28 Jan 2022 09:24:57 +0000 https://jopr.mpob.gov.my/?p=12182 Pyroligneous acid (PA) is a by-product from carbonisation of palm kernel shell (PKS) with more than 200organic compounds, including phenolic and organic acids. The purpose of this study was to characterise andevaluate the effectiveness of PA to protect oil palm trunk (OPT) against fungal attack. Wood vinegar wasproduced at four carbonisation temperatures (i.e., 500°C, 600°C, 700°C and 800°C). The chemical propertiesof PA were measured using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and gas chromatography-massspectroscopy (GC-MS). The antifungal assay of PA from carbonisation at 600°C was applied on OPT againsta white-rot fungus, Trametes versicolor, and a brown-rot fungus, Fomitopsis palustris. The effectivenessof PA against both fungi was evaluated by soaking OPT in the PA solution for 24 hr at 25°C, followed byexposure to the media containing the fungi, as stipulated in ASTM D-4455 standard. The lowest meanweight loss (9.33%) was obtained after eight weeks of exposure. The OPT-PA-treated specimen was highlyresistant to the growth of T. versicolor. It was assumed that acid and phenolic components contributed toenhanced growth control of fungi, as indicated from the GC-MS results. The chemical compositions of PAproved that the antifungal activities could be controlled using a high concentration of PA.

]]> https://jopr.mpob.gov.my/factors-affecting-development-of-oryctes-rhinoceros-in-some-substrates-commonly-found-in-the-oil-palm-environment/ Sat, 13 Nov 2021 08:13:49 +0000 https://jopr.mpob.gov.my/V2/?p=9099 A laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the factors which affected larval development in four different substrates commonly found in the oil palm replanting environment. The percent survivorship of Oryctes rhinoceros was lowest in raw empty fruit bunches (EFB), followed by coconut trunk (CT) and oil palm trunk (OPT). Processed EFB and oil palm fronds (OPF) were found to be less suitable substrates, as indicated by the incomplete development of the larval stages. There were lower percentage of nitrogen in the OPF (0.45%) and EFB (0.35%), compared to CT (1.98%) and OPT (0.56%) substrates, which could have affected the duration for each developing stage. The higher starch content in OPT compared to raw EFB may also have influenced the development of the larvae. The weights of almost all the developing stages were higher in CT substrate. The second and third larval instars had consumption rates of 2.2 g day^-1 and 4.1 g day^-1 of CT and OPT substrates respectively. Although the consumption rates were higher in OPT, the weight of larvae remained significantly lower (p<0.05) than in CT. There was a significant linear relationship (p<0.001) between the percent moisture content and weight of the third instar larvae, showing water to be an important factor in ensuring weight increase in the larval and subsequently, pupal stages. Moisture content of 77% and above was essential for the complete development of 0. rhinoceros. It is hoped that this information will lead to a modification of the zero burn replanting practice, so as to create less suitable environments for the beetle to breed in, thus avoiding the risk of 0. rhinoceros attack.

]]> https://jopr.mpob.gov.my/production-of-oil-palm-trunk-core-board-with-wood-veneer-lamination/ Sat, 13 Nov 2021 08:10:21 +0000 https://jopr.mpob.gov.my/V2/?p=9089 Malaysia has abundant oil palm trunks (OPT) from the replanting cycle of oil palm plantations, and these are convertible into value-added products. The most impending and immediate application is for wood composite products. Unlike softwood or hardwood, OPT has a unique physicochemical structure but is inefficient for use in its natural condition in woody application. In this study, the properties of OPT were upgraded via the formation of a core board and lamination process. OPT, as the core layer, was laminated with rubberwood veneers of two thicknesses using urea formaldehyde resin as a binder at three different levels of glue spread rate, and further hot pressed under three different levels of pressures. Tests for density, static bending, shear and water absorption were carried out in accordance with ASTM Standard. The results show that the board using higher glue spread rate and pressing pressure ended up with higher resistance to water absorption and to dimensional changes. The mechanical properties of the OPT core board laminated with 1.0 mm veneer thickness using 200 g m-² glue spread rate and 80 bar pressing pressure were better than the boards produced by other processing variables.

]]> https://jopr.mpob.gov.my/mechanical-and-physical-properties-of-oil-palm-trunk-core-particleboard-bonded-with-different-uf-resins/ Sat, 13 Nov 2021 07:49:23 +0000 https://jopr.mpob.gov.my/V2/?p=8957 Rapid price increases and reduction in the supply of rubberwood has forced the particleboard manufacturers to look for new alternative raw materials. The production of particleboard from other wood species will be a good solution to the problem of depleting wood supplies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the properties of particleboard made from rubberwood and oil palm trunk pressed at different temperatures and times compared to particleboards made from single species. Two types of UF resins (E1 resin and SE0 resin) were applied in this study. The effect of surface-to-core ratio was also examined in this study. The modulus of rupture, internal bond strength and thickness swelling of the boards were evaluated based on the Japanese Industrial Standard for particleboard (JIS A 5908:2003). After evaluation, the panels produced are a potential substitute to the panels made from pure rubberwood.

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