SUSTAINABLE ANTIBACTERIAL NANOFIBRES: ELECTROSPUN CELLULOSE ACETATE FROM OIL PALM WASTE REINFORCED WITH SILVER NANOPARTICLES

A study on the isolation and characterization of electrospun cellulose acetate nanofibres derived from oil palm empty fruit bunches and their antibacterial properties with silver nanoparticles was conducted to expand the application of cellulose acetate from oil palm. Cellulose acetate was extracted using pulping and bleaching methods, followed by acetylation using acetic anhydride. Cellulose acetate was dissolved in dimethylsulfoxide: acetone (2:1) with a concentration of 15% (w/v), and electrospun to produce electrospun nanofibres. The impregnation of silver nanoparticles into electrospun nanofibres was performed by immersion in Ag-NO3-reduced by green synthesis using glucose as a reducing agent and 1% amylum as a stabiliser, and coded as AgNp1. Another sample was prepared by immersing electrospun nanofibers in 0.1 M AgNO3 (coded as AgNp2). The nanofibre was characterised using Fourier Transform Infrared, showing that only electrospun nanofibre impregnated with AgNp1 experienced chemical changes during the impregnation of silver nanoparticles. 1HNMR analysis showed absorption in cellulose acetate and electrospun nanofibre 2.2 and 1.9 ppm, indicating proton absorbance from acetyl groups. Acetyl group proton absorbance was observed in electrospun nanofibres immersed in AgNp2, showing no chemical changes. Whereas, in AgNp1, there were no acetyl groups proton absorbance after the reduction by NaBH4. The surfaces of electrospun nanofibers were smoother than the silver-coated electrospun nanofibers. The nanofibre immersed in AgNp1 had a wider clear zone, by 0.45 mm, than AgNp2. A wider zone showed that the green synthesis of silver coatings produced nanofibres with more silver nanoparticles. This study showed that electrospun nanofibres from cellulose acetate increased the antibacterial properties in the presence of silver nanoparticles.