Potential of functionalised cellulose from oil palm biomass as nitrogen and phosphorus based nutrient adsorbent – A review

By the year 2020, oil palm biomass in Malaysia is projected to reach between 85-110 million tonnes per year. Instead of disposing off such a massive amount of biomass as waste, the oil palm biomass could be converted into value-added products. Since lignocellulosic materials could be a suitable adsorbent for nitrogen and phosphorus-based nutrients from aquaculture effluent based on studies conducted by other countries, it would be an excellent opportunity to monetise oil palm biomass for a similar purpose as well. There are many well-established extraction methods introduced by researchers. However, only a handful of the extraction method involved the use of green chemicals. This paper provides a review of the extraction and modification for oil palm biomass towards becoming a potential adsorbent for nitrogen and phosphorus-based nutrients.