Cellulose from the palm oil solid waste (oil palm shells and stems) be isolated and used as a filler material in a biodegradable plastic, in order to improve its mechanical properties. Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) is a biodegradable polymer and compatible for nanocellulose fillers, where its mechanical properties can reach the same level as the conventional plastic. In this study, nanocellulose has been successfully prepared from the oil palm shells and stems with acid hydrolysis method and applied as a filler for PVA/nanocellulose film composite. The characterizations include Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and mechanical properties (tensile and elongation). The FTIR and DSC analysis confirm the improvement of the mechanical properties after the addition of nanocellulose, where the tensile strength reaches 14.64 kgf/mm2 with the optimal thermal ratio at 203.5°C. Nevertheless, the addition of 20% nanocellulose reduces the value of tensile strength and elongation.

Composites polyvinyl alcohol filled with nanocellulose from oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) and oil palm fronds (OPF) have investigated. Nanocellulose prepared by formic acid 50 wt%. Functional groups and degree of crystalline of nanocellulose were analyzed by FTIR and XRD. The degree of crystalline nanocellulose presented at 2θ at intensity of 22.26 and 21.86 for OPEFB and OPF. Amorphous part of nanocellulose at intensity of 14.68 and 15.86 for OPEFB and OPF. Functional group of nanocellulose give the same pattern for OPEFB and OPF. Nanocellulose reinforce in polyvinyl alcohol as many as 1, 5, 10 and 20% and as a comparison with polyvinyl alcohol without filler. Eight of composite films and one of vinyl alcohol film have studied mechanical properties such as tensile strength and elongation at break, and also functional groups. The tensile strength of OPF 5% and 10% increased than polyvinyl alcohol matrix. Tensile strength OPEFB 10% slightly increase from polyvinyl alcohol. The elongation of composites both OPEFB and OPF decreased with increased of nanocellulose loading.