Characteristics of Cellulose from Oil Palm Trunks at Different Ages for Renewable Materials Applications

Oil palm trunks (OPT), abundantly available during plantation replanting, represent a renewable lignocellulosic resource for sustainable material applications. Although OPT-derived cellulose has been extensively explored, the influence of oil palm age on cellulose properties remains insufficiently understood. In this study, cellulose was isolated from OPT aged 21, 25, and 32 years and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). SEM observations indicated more uniform and better-separated fibril structures in cellulose from older OPT, suggesting more effective removal of non-cellulosic components. FTIR confirmed successful cellulose isolation across all age groups. XRD analysis revealed an increase in crystallinity with trunk age, from 62.94% to 68.62%, while TGA showed slightly enhanced thermal stability for cellulose obtained from older trunks. These age-dependent variations suggest that cellulose from younger OPT is more suitable for chemical modification, whereas cellulose from older OPT is better suited for applications requiring higher structural and thermal stability, such as biocomposites and reinforcement materials. These findings highlight OPT as a valuable renewable feedstock, with its valorization supporting circular bioeconomy strategies through the production of advanced renewable materials.