Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences, Vol 22 No 1 (2018): 143 - 150 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17576/mjas-2018-2201-18 143 MALAYSIAN JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL SCIENCES Published by The Malaysian Analytical Sciences Society INFLUENCE OF ALKALI TREATMENT ON PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF MALAYSIAN BAMBOO FIBER: A PRELIMINARY STUDY (Pengaruh Rawatan Alkali terhadap Sifat-sifat Fizikal-Kimia Serat Buluh Malaysia: Satu Kajian Awal) Foo Sheng Tong 1 *, Siew Choo Chin 1, 2 , Mohd Tamizi Mustafa 4 , Huei Ruey Ong 3 , Md. Maksudur Rahman Khan 2, 3 , Jolius Gimbun 2, 3 , Shu Ing Doh 1 1 Faculty of Civil Engineering & Earth Resources 2 Centre of Excellence for Advanced Research in Fluid Flow (CARIFF) 3 Faculty of Chemical & Natural Resources Engineering University Malaysia Pahang, 26300 Gambang, Pahang, Malaysia 4 Kualiti Kayu dan Hasil Bukan Kayu, Bahagian Keluaran Hutan, Forest Research Institute of Malaysia, 52109 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia * Corresponding author: tongfoosheng@hotmail.com Received: 4 December 2016; Accepted: 1 December 2017 Abstract In the present study, the effect of alkaline treatment on the morphology and physico-chemical properties of Malaysian bamboo fibers was elucidated. The fibers were extracted from raw bamboo culm using alkaline solution with concentrations of 0 and 10 wt% at 24 hours and followed by roller milling techniques. The treated and untreated fibers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Apart from that, the mechanical properties of single fiber were also investigated. It was found that the tensile strength and modulus of the alkali-treated fiber were improved by 45.6 and 72%, respectively, compared to the untreated fiber. The surface morphology of the treated fiber was improved in which the surface roughness has been reduced significantly as proven in SEM. The FTIR and TGA data suggested that alkaline treatment gradually removed the lignin and hemicellulose. These findings highly recommended that, local bamboo fiber could be used as a reinforcement agent for composite making. Keywords: alkaline treatment, bamboo fiber, natural fiber, natural fiber composite, roller milling techniques Abstrak Dalam kajian ini, kesan rawatan alkali terhadap sifat morfologi dan fizikokimia gentian buluh Malaysia telah dijelaskan. Serat telah diambil dari laras buluh mentah dengan menggunakan larutan alkali dengan kepekatan 0 dan 10% pada 24 jam dan diikuti dengan teknik penggilingan roller. Serat yang dirawat dan tidak dirawat dicirikan oleh spektroskopi transformasi Fourier (FTIR), analisis termogravimetrik (TGA) and mikroskop imbasan elektron (SEM). Selain itu, sifat mekanik serat tunggal juga disiasat. Keputusan telah didapati bahawa kekuatan tegangan dan modulus serat yang dirawat alkali telah meningkat sebanyak 45.6 dan 72%, berbanding dengan serat yang tidak dirawat. Morfologi permukaan serat yang dirawat telah diperbaiki dengan kekasaran permukaan berkurangan dengan nyata, seperti yang dibuktikan oleh SEM. Data FTIR dan TGA mencadangkan rawatan alkali telah menghilangkan lignin dan hemiselulosa secara beransur-ansur. Penemuan ini sangat disyorkan bahawa, serat buluh tempatan boleh digunakan sebagai ejen tetulang untuk pembuatan komposit. Kata kunci: rawatan alkali, serat buluh, serat semulajadi, komposit gentian semulajadi, teknik penggilingan roller ISSN 1394 - 2506