Modeling of acetosolv pulping of oil palm fronds using response surface methodology and wavelet neural networks

Mathematical models based on response surface methodology (RSM) and wavelet neural networks (WNNs) in conjunction with a central composite design were developed in order to study the influence of pulping variables viz. acetic acid, temperature, time, and hydrochloric acid (catalyst) on the resulting pulp and paper properties (screened yield, kappa number, tensile and tear indices) during the acetosolv pulping of oil palm fronds. The performance analysis demonstrated the superiority of WNNs over RSM, in that the former reproduced the experimental results with percentage errors and mean squared errors between 3 and 8% and 0.0054–0.4514 respectively, which were much lower than those obtained by the RSM models with corresponding values of 12–40% and 0.0809–9.3044, further corroborating the goodness of fit of the WNNs models for simulating the acetosolv pulping of oil palm fronds. Based on this assessment, it validates the exceptional predictive ability of the WNNs in comparison to the RSM polynomial model

Composites polyvinyl alcohol filled with nanocellulose from oil palm waste by formic acid hydrolysis

Composites polyvinyl alcohol filled with nanocellulose from oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) and oil palm fronds (OPF) have investigated. Nanocellulose prepared by formic acid 50 wt%. Functional groups and degree of crystalline of nanocellulose were analyzed by FTIR and XRD. The degree of crystalline nanocellulose presented at 2θ at intensity of 22.26 and 21.86 for OPEFB and OPF. Amorphous part of nanocellulose at intensity of 14.68 and 15.86 for OPEFB and OPF. Functional group of nanocellulose give the same pattern for OPEFB and OPF. Nanocellulose reinforce in polyvinyl alcohol as many as 1, 5, 10 and 20% and as a comparison with polyvinyl alcohol without filler. Eight of composite films and one of vinyl alcohol film have studied mechanical properties such as tensile strength and elongation at break, and also functional groups. The tensile strength of OPF 5% and 10% increased than polyvinyl alcohol matrix. Tensile strength OPEFB 10% slightly increase from polyvinyl alcohol. The elongation of composites both OPEFB and OPF decreased with increased of nanocellulose loading

FTIR Analysis on Phase Transformation of Rust In The Presence of Gambir

ABSTRACT The performance of gambir reacted with rust by means of FTIR was evaluated. The effects of gambir concentration, contact time and the addition of phosphoric acid in phase transformation of rust were studied. The FTIR spectra showed that the conversion of lepidocrocite (γ-FeOOH) was the fastest, followed by magnetite (Fe3O4) and goethite (α-FeOOH) was the slowest. 10% gambir with 3 h contact time was found to be the optimum condition for the phase transformation. Addition of phosphoric acid gave a better performance in phase transformation of rust

Composites polyvinyl alcohol filled with nanocellulose from oil palm waste by formic acid hydrolysis

Composites polyvinyl alcohol filled with nanocellulose from oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) and oil palm fronds (OPF) have investigated. Nanocellulose prepared by formic acid 50 wt%. Functional groups and degree of crystalline of nanocellulose were analyzed by FTIR and XRD. The degree of crystalline nanocellulose presented at 2θ at intensity of 22.26 and 21.86 for OPEFB and OPF. Amorphous part of nanocellulose at intensity of 14.68 and 15.86 for OPEFB and OPF. Functional group of nanocellulose give the same pattern for OPEFB and OPF. Nanocellulose reinforce in polyvinyl alcohol as many as 1, 5, 10 and 20% and as a comparison with polyvinyl alcohol without filler. Eight of composite films and one of vinyl alcohol film have studied mechanical properties such as tensile strength and elongation at break, and also functional groups. The tensile strength of OPF 5% and 10% increased than polyvinyl alcohol matrix. Tensile strength OPEFB 10% slightly increase from polyvinyl alcohol. The elongation of composites both OPEFB and OPF decreased with increased of nanocellulose loading