Evaluation of the applicability of oil palm EFB fines as a functional organic filler

Abstract

The applicability of oil palm EFB(Empty Fiber Bunch) to the papermaking process as a functional organic filler was investigated in this study. Since the EFB has similar chemical composition to the lignocellulose materials such as wood fiber, the fines of EFB was applied to the handsheet paper as an alternative to wood powder which were used as an organic filler to improve water removal efficiency and bulk. The experiments showed that the EFB fines resulted in the higher water removal efficiency at the wet pressing process and leaded to the higher bulk than those of wood powder. In case of 10% addition of organic filler, the strength properties were not significantly changed. Those results suggested that the EFB could be used as a new organic filler for improving water removal efficiency and bulk property.