Relationship between dissolution temperature and properties of oil palm biomass based-regenerated cellulose films prepared via ionic liquid

In this article, we described fabrication of regenerated cellulose (RC) films derived from oil palm empty fruit bunch-microcrystalline cellulose (OPEFB-MCC) via ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [BMIM][Cl]. The properties of RC films as a function of varied dissolution temperature; 75, 80 and 85 °C were unraveled by means of their water vapor permeability, light opacity, mechanical performance, thermal characteristic and morphology. It was shown that when dissolution temperature was increased, the barrier properties of RC films were enhanced as indicated by increment of opacity values (1.44–1.63) but decline of water vapor permeability values (0.95–1.30 × 10⁻¹⁰ g s⁻¹ m⁻¹ Pa⁻¹). We also observed an improvement in thermal stability of RC films as shown by the increase of their degradation temperatures; T₂₀ = 264–266 °C and T_max = 273–281 °C. However, the films’ mechanical performances denoted by TS and EAB values were slightly diminished with percentage reduction of 21.7% and 5.2%, respectively. Meanwhile, the films exhibited T_g without T_m, reflecting their highly amorphous structure after regeneration. Microstructural analyses of the films depicted uniform distribution of cellulose fragments on their cross-sectional surfaces thus indicated excellent dissolution of cellulose in the solvent.