Optimization of Carboxymethyl Cellulose from Ozonated Empty Fruit Bunch for Biofilm Fabrication

Fabrication of Biofilm Using Carboxymethyl Cellulose Derived from Ozonated Empty Fruit Bunch

Authors

  • Danish Akmal Jihat @ Ahmad Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
  • Zhahdah Husna Hassan Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
  • Mohd Asmadi Mohammed Yussuf Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
  • Nur Hafizah Ab Hamid Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
  • Mahadhir Mohamed Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
  • Amnani Shamjuddin Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Keywords:

Ozonated Empty Fruit Bunch, Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC), Response Surface Methodology (RSM), Biofilm Fabrication

Abstract

Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) derived from lignocellulosic biomass has gained interest in biodegradable film fabrication. In this study, CMC was synthesized from ozonated empty fruit bunches (EFB). The parameters for synthesizing the CMC were screened and optimized focusing on the degree of substitution (DS) of CMC. The CMC was then used for biofilm fabrication. The parameters for CMC production and its effect on DS were evaluated by using response surface methodology (RSM). All parameters significantly influenced the DS of CMC, and the optimal DS achieved is 0.69 at 15% NaOH, cellulose: sodium monochloroacetate (SMCA) of 1:2, reaction temperature of 55 °C and a reaction time of 1.5 hrs. The characterization of CMC at different DS by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) shows high resistance to thermal degradation 500 °C with a more irregular surface for DS 0.69 as compared to lower DS. Using the CMC with DS 0.69 for biofilm fabrication, the biofilm achieved tensile strength up to 34.43 MPa, elongation break at 45% with solubility less than 10% both at room and high temperatures the formulation of biofilm consisted of CMC (4.99 wt.%), citric acid (2.49 wt.%), glycerol (1.26 wt.%), and water (91.26 wt.%). Overall, the optimized CMC can be used as a polymer matrix in biofilm fabrication, producing biofilm with high tensile strength, elongation, and low solubility.

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2026-06-25

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