Thermal and Morphological Analysis of Biocomposite From Multilayer Plastic Waste and Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Fiber

Abstract

ABSTRACT Oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB), a byproduct of the palm oil industry, have great potential in the circular economy, particularly for composite material production. Multilayer plastic waste from the bottled water industry presents significant environmental challenges. Recycling both wastes into biocomposites offers a sustainable solution to reduce waste and dependence on conventional raw materials. This study utilizes multilayer plastic waste (PET, LDPE, LLDPE) from plastic cup lids and OPEFB fiber (50 mesh). The materials are extruded into pellets with 30, 50, and 70 wt.% OPEFB fiber. Characterization includes FTIR, TGA, DSC, and XRD for thermal properties, as well as SEM for morphology. The results indicate predominantly physical interactions between the untreated OPEFB fibers and the polymer matrix, with moderate interfacial adhesion. TGA and DTG results indicate faster degradation with higher OPEFB content, with lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose decomposing at 288°C and 340°C. Increased fiber content also decreases crystallinity from 26.30% to 10.84%. Overall, the study demonstrates the potential of OPEFB and multilayer plastic waste as raw materials for environmentally friendly and sustainable biocomposites.