Lignins were extracted from oil palm empty fruit bunch after kraft and soda pulping process. The aim of this study was to characterise the chemical and thermal properties of these lignins as well as determine their suitability for partial incorporation into phenol formaldehyde resin. The analytical methods used were CHN analyser, FTIR spectroscopy, UV spectroscopy, TGA, DSC, GPC, 1H NMR and FESEM. The elemental analysis results showed that both lignins had similar contents of C, H and O. FTIR spectra also revealed that both lignins have similar functional groups. Nevertheless, both lignins showed different compositions in terms of molecular weight distribution (M n, M w and polydispersity), reactive site through Mannich reactivity analysis, surface morphology and T g value. The phenolic hydroxyl group content in kraft and soda lignins is 4.1076 mmol/g and 2.5830 mmol/g, respectively. The TGA thermogram showed both lignins had high thermal stability. Based on these analyses, kraft lignin from oil palm empty fruit bunch showed tremendous potential as a partial substitute for phenol in phenol formaldehyde resin production.
Summary: Malaysia has over 4 million hectares of oil palm plantations that yield large amounts of empty fruit bunches (EFB) generated from palm oil milling operations. These forms of lignocellulosic residue pose an environmental hazard if their disposal is not managed in a systematic manner. One of the useful elements extracted from these EFBs is lignin. The general purpose of this study is to explore the potential uses of lignin extracted from soda black liquor (paper and pulping waste) derived from oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) in the formulation of a more environmentally friendly wood adhesive. In this work, the potential for replacing phenol with lignin in phenol formaldehyde resin formulation is examined. The quantity of phenol was reduced by synthesizing the resin at a lignin to phenol ratio of 1:1. The physical and chemical properties of lignin phenol formaldehyde resin (LPF) and commercial phenol formaldehyde resin (CPF) were then compared. The infrared spectrum revealed similarities in the functional groups of both LPF and CPF resins. Tensile strength comparisons between both resins revealed that the LPF resin had a higher bonding strength (11.60 MPa more in term of allowable maximum load). In addition, the kinematics viscosity test showed that the LPF resin had lower kinematic viscosity than the CPF resin after 21 days of storage. Finally, the scanning electron microscope images for both resins showed similarities in terms of penetration into wood vessels.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.