Optimization of cellulose nanofiber production from oil palm empty fruit bunch using Trichoderma sp. with the solid state fermentation method

Abstract

Cellulose nanofibers were isolated from oil palm empty fruit bunch by delignification using Marasmius sp. and subsequently treated by solid state fermentation using Trichoderma sp. This method used pH values of 4.8, 5.5, and 7 and temperatures of 28 °C, 32 °C, and 37 °C for 7 d. Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and particle size analysis were performed to determine the properties of the isolated cellulose nanofibers. Results showed that chemical analysis by FTIR, lignin was completely removed from the EFB. It was found that the combination of pH 5.5 and incubation temperature 37 °C were favorable for the SSF process to isolate cellulose nanofibers from oil palm EFB fiber. SSF processing resulted in smooth morphological structures, with a fiber diameter range of 32.6 nm to 36.4 nm.