Silica in Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches - An Infinite Amazement

ARNIZA GHAZALI1

SITI SALMI GHAZALI2

MOHD HAFIZ RIDZUAN1

WANROSLI WAN DAUD1

1School of Industrial Technology Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang. 2 Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia.

• EFB

– Elaise guineensis (Kelapa sawit, oil palm) – Abundance in Malaysia (17 million ton/yr) – Residue of palm oil milling – Malaysia being world

2nd largest

• Outcome of Utilization – Prevent accumulation – Raw material for various products – The once fibrous waste – now commodity – Sustainable development: cradle-to-cradle in LCA,

zero-waste strategy for industry.

Introduction Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches [1-5]

• EFB – major components [7]

– Cellulose (50.49%) – Holocellulose (80.09%) – Lignin (17.84%) – Extractives (3.21%)

• EFB – the ‘problematic’ component References 6-15:

– Silica • Inert to all chemicals • Except NaOH, HF

– Heavy metals • Undesirable to industrial

processes favouring non-siliceous components.

Introduction Silica in Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches

Method & Aim of Presentation Examination of Silica in Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches

SEM Analysis of:

• EFB, • ASH of EFB, • Ash of holocellulose, • Ash of a-cellulose • Ash of paper. Aim: To marvel at

nature through microscopy

Original Utilisation Idea – paper-making

Simple Fibre

Extraction Technique – • found silica ! • Removal

Attempted • Structure

studied

Results Silica in Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches

SEM/EDAX Analysis of Untreated EFB

- Roles of silica bodies in plants: • 1-Mechanical strength, • 2-Detoxification of excess

minerals, etc. -

Atomic %, Si:O (1:2) Silica, SiO2 (EDX & literature)

• SEM of EFB surface showing high silica-to-craters ratio in untreated EFB.

Results Silica in Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches

• SEM of EFB surface showing high craters-to-silica ratio, suggesting desilication after DTPA treatment, which creates tremendous hints about nature!

SiO2+DTPA? Silica is inert, except to

NaOH and HF !

SiO2 liberation implies close

Linkage between silica & minerals.

Results Silica in Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches

SEM Analysis of EFB Ash explains the location, role & the ‘finer

mystery’ of nature:

As seen in a) Silica bodies atop mineral layer – the possible role of detoxification [10, 16-19] unveiled. As seen in b) Silica fused to other minerals. EDX area analysis show: calcium, sodium, potassium of 5.2%, 9.9% and 6.3% atomic percentage amidst 21.4% silica and 51.7% oxygen ⇒ Evidence of skeletal silica

a.

b.

Results Silica in Plants [

Possible scientific explanation to observation:

Sillicic acid deposited on

transpiration stream forms skeletal silica, while

Silica having attracted excess minerals, deposited on vascular bundle surface as silica bodies.

Results Skeletal silica in Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches

SEM of Dissected EFB

vascular bundle: SEM of Ash of Paper From EFB:

EDAX (atomic %) :- Ca 21.9%, Mg 3.5%, silica 3.2%, Oxygen 55.4%.

Shape of the cellulosic ash is plausible resemblance of the vessel structure in the dissected EFB vascular bundle.

Results More Silica in Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches

SEM of a-cellulose : Siliceous threads found

amidst metal clusters of the cellulose mass.

Contemplation: Silica as the Amazing Finer Mysteries

• Silica, be it bodies or skeletal, is a picture of the ‘finer mysteries’

foretold in indigenous knowledge:

“..if there be (but) the weight of a mustard

seed and it were (hidden) in a rock or

(anywhere) in the heavens or on earth. Allah

will bring it forth: for Allah understands the

finer mysteries (and) is well-acquainted (with

them).” 31: 16 [20]

Contribution of study Silica in Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches

• Knowledge of silica level and adjacent to minerals – gateway to

strategy for efficiency enhancement of paper production / any

other industrial process ∵ silica and industrial process – no good

match

• Findings help us appreciate that all creation comes with purpose

and specific proportion, in correlation with indigenous knowledge:

“And there is not a thing but its source and treasures inexhaustible are with us. But we send down thereof in

due and ascertainable measures” 15:21 [20]

• SEM helps us marvel at the finer mysteries only understood by the

Creator: 31:16 [20] & bridge the gap between research and the

Creator!

Conclusion Silica in Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches

• Silica is removable by indirect reaction with DTPA

• Siliceous structures are sculptured into the biomass -

this makes up residual, irremovable silica.

• Amazing craftsmanship of nature that is hardly

realized without superb imaging like SEM – tool that

connects knowledge to the Creator.

• Indigenous knowledge helps us appreciate

specificity of creation and role & explains science of

nature.

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