<![CDATA[The potential of oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) as a raw material for membrane production has not been fully explored. OPEFB waste contains a relatively high cellulose content, a natural polymer that can serve as a precursor for plastic and membrane synthesis. Membranes are semi-permeable barriers commonly employed in applications such as clean water purification and liquid waste treatment. To utilize cellulose from OPEFB, it must first be converted into cellulose acetate (CA) via an acetylation reaction. Cellulose acetate is a biodegradable polymer known for its hydrophilic nature, high chemical stability, and mechanical strength, making it a widely used material in membrane technology. Moreover, CA is suitable as a matrix for developing nanocomposite membranes with enhanced performance characteristics. Membranes are typically fabricated using the phase inversion technique, involving solvents such as acetone or dimethylformamide (DMF). The resulting membrane properties—including morphology, porosity, and chemical interactions—depend on the choice of polymer and additives in the casting solution. Additives such as nano-silica and polyethylene glycol (PEG) are often incorporated to improve tensile strength, increase hydrophilicity, and control pore size distribution. Optimizing the composition ratios of cellulose acetate, solvent, and additives is essential to achieve desirable properties, particularly for ultrafiltration (UF) applications. OPEFB offers promising potential as a sustainable, renewable resource for producing UF membranes, supporting circular economy principles and waste valorization in environmental applications.]]>
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