Effect of temperature on the silylation of nanocrystalline cellulose from oil palm empty fruit bunch with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane

Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) was obtained through the oxidation reaction of oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) pulp and 4-acetamido- 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-oxyl (TEMPO) followed by ultrasonication. The aim of this study the effects of temperature on the silylation of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) using OPEFB-NCC and 3-aminopropyl-triethoxysilane (APS). The reaction temperatures use in the silylation process were 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100 degrees C. FTIR of the distinctive peaks resulting from the silylation process at 810 cm(-1), broad peaks at 1028-1157 cm(-1)d and at 2928 cm(-1) were used as the basis for investigating the influence of temperature on the silylation reaction. In addition, a visual examination of the final product was also carried out. Based on the FTIR analyses and aided by visual assessment, it can be deduced that a medium temperature of 80 degrees C is the optimum silylation reaction temperature.