Oil palm frond-derived cellulose nanocrystals: Effect of pretreatment and elucidating its reinforcing potential in hydrogel beads.

Herein, cellulose nanocrystals were synthesized from oil palm fronds (CNC-OPF) involving two pretreatment approaches, viz. autohydrolysis and soda pulping. The pretreatments were applied individually to OPF fibers to assess their influence on CNCs' physicochemical and thermal properties.