<![CDATA[Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) derived from oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) and starch was utilized to develop composite films. The research aimed to evaluate the effects of bleaching parameters on the quality of cellulose extracted from OPEFB and its subsequent application in CMC/starch composite film synthesis. OPEFB biomass underwent delignification followed by bleaching at liquid–solid ratios of 1:10 and 1:20. The purified cellulose was converted into CMC through alkylation and carboxymethylation reactions. Composite films were fabricated using the solution casting method with starch as a blending component and glycerol as a plasticizer. Physicochemical characterization included analysis of cellulose and lignin contents, brightness measurements, and structural identification using FTIR spectroscopy. Results revealed that bleaching at the 1:20 ratio produced higher cellulose purity, lower residual lignin levels, and greater brightness compared to the 1:10 ratio. FTIR spectra confirmed the removal of lignin and the successful formation of CMC through the presence of characteristic functional groups. Composite films produced from CMC obtained at the 1:20 bleaching ratio exhibited homogeneity and performance. These findings indicate that optimizing bleaching conditions is essential to obtaining high-quality CMC from OPEFB and demonstrate the potential of this biomass-derived material for sustainable biodegradable composite film applications for packaging purposes.]]>
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