Sustainable production of polyethylene glycol and furandicarboxylic acid copolymer (PEG-co-FDCA) from oil palm empty fruit bunch

The 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) is a valuable compound in the development of sustainable plastics, primarily serving as a building block for renewable alternatives to aromatic polyesters. This study describes the synthesis of FDCA from oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) and its copolymerization with polyethylene glycol (PEG). Cellulose (53 % yield) was extracted then hydrolyzed to glucose enzymatically (62 % yield) which was then further dehydrated to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) (48 % yield) using a safer and greener solvent. The HMF was oxidized to FDCA under mild reaction conditions (67 % yield). Then, FDCA was successfully co-polymerized with PEG using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) coupling mechanism to form PEG-co-FDCA with 58 % yield. The PEG-co-FDCA was found to be semicrystalline structure (50 % crystallinity) and showed crystalline lamellae and amorphous clusters. The use of OPEFB in the production of PEG-co-FDCA offers a sustainable solution to waste management and environmental challenges. The resulting PEG-co-FDCA can be used to produce bioplastics, coatings, adhesives, and biodegradable fibers for the textile industry, providing a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics adhering to the UN Sustainable Development Goal. • Sustainable synthesis of furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) from empty fruit bunch. • Copolymerization of FDCA with PEG diamine, resulting in 58 % yield of PEG-co-FDCA. • Semicrystalline structure PEG-co-FDCA with 50 % crystallinity and M w = 14,600 g/mol. • Development of milder reaction conditions for FDCA synthesis to overcome challenges.