Nanofiber Cellulose/Lignin from Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches and the Potential for Carbon Fiber Precursor Prepared by Wet-spinning

Abstract

This work isolated nanofiber cellulose (NFC) and Lignin from oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB). NFC/lignin-based carbon fiber was prepared by using the wet-spinning technique and followed by pyrolysis at 500°C. Lignin isolated from OPEFB was compared with commercial Lignin by using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR). The nano dimension of NFC was observed by using Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). The NFC/lignin after pyrolysis was characterized by using SEM EDX and Raman spectroscopy. NFC showed diameters between 5 nm and 60 nm. Both Lignin commercial and isolated had aromatic benzene. Lignin was introduced to NFC, where NFC/lignin composition of (100:0), (90:10), and (80:20) increased the thermal stability of wet-spun fiber. Meanwhile, NFC/lignin (90:10) and (80:20) had almost 50% residual mass. The result confirmed that the carbon material, such as NFC/lignin (100:0), (90:10), and (80:20), had rod-like shape morphology with diameters of 236.2 nm, 492.4 nm, and 653.2 nm, respectively. Furthermore, the G band and D band of the carbonous material were observed at 1580 cm-1 and 1358 cm-1. The conversion of NFC/lignin from OPEFB to carbon material was successful and potentially suitable for the precursor of carbon fiber.