Production of Cellulose Acetate from Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches Cellulose

Abstract

Cellulose acetate was produced from acetylation process oil palm empty fruit bunches cellulose which underutilized. To obtained cellulose acetate qualified was needed cellulose with high purity level which was produced through several stages are pre-hydrolysis, delignification, pulping and bleaching. The purpose of this research was to making cellulose acetate and determining the exact acetylation time from oil palm empty fruit bunches cellulose. The research was conducted several stages are cellulose extraction, cellulose acetate production with acetylation process and characterization of acetate cellulose. The production process of cellulose acetate was done with acetylation time are 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes. The results were obtained cellulose acetate by water content range from 4.332 to 4,468%, the highest yield for 45 minutes was 189.699% and the best acetyl content for 30 minutes was 40.108%. FTIR analysis was showing carbonyl group at 1759 cm^-1 and C-O group at 1234 cm^-1 region. Morphology of cellulose acetate obtained was shaped cylindrical fibers and had perforated layer.

Keywords: Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches, Cellulose Acetate, Acetylation