Malaysian Journal of Biochemistry
& Molecular Biology
(E-ISSN: 2600-9005)
The Official Publication of the Malaysian Society for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (MSBMB)
Indexed by SCOPUS and Malaysian Citation Index (MYCITE)
NEW ANNOUNCEMENT
The MJBMB will be revising its publication fee for accepted papers from MYR250 to MYR300 effective 1st January 2026.
New submissions received from 1st January 2026 onwards will pay the new rate.
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Special Issue (2) 2026
Selected Papers from the:
3rd International Conference on Industry-Academia Initiatives in Biotechnology and Chemistry (iCIABC2025)
Page range 1-141
DOI:
Page 26-31
Priya Darshini Ponselvarajah and Nazira Mahmud
SURFACTANT-ASSISTED BIOLOGICAL PRETREATMENT OF OIL PALM BIOMASS
Abstract
The growing amount of lignocellulosic waste produced by the palm oil industry, especially oil palm frond (OPF) and empty fruit bunch (EFB), requires sustainable valorisation strategies. Biological pretreatment using ligninolytic fungi offers an eco-friendly method for biomass degradation, yet slow degradation rates limit its large-scale applicability. Surfactants have demonstrated potential in enhancing the biological pretreatment of biomass. This study investigates the effect of surfactant-assisted biological pretreatment using coco glucoside (0.4% v/w) and Phanerochaete chrysosporium on OPF and EFB under solid-state fermentation. The surfactant was introduced prior to solid-state fermentation to evaluate its influence on lignocellulosic degradation. Chemical composition analyses were performed to quantify the amount of lignin, holocellulose, α-cellulose, and hemicellulose content. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was conducted to observe structural modifications of the biomass. In OPF, the holocellulose content increased from 74.20 ± 1.52% in untreated samples to 84.12 ± 4.70% in surfactant-assisted treatment, while the lignin content was reduced from 23.67 ± 1.95% to 20.44 ± 2.30%. Hemicellulose content rose from 17.08 ± 0.96% to 29.24 ± 6.19%. For EFB, the holocellulose content increased from 71.57 ± 1.97% to 82.75 ± 4.38%, and the lignin content decreased from 24.75 ± 0.90% to 22.47 ± 0.84%. In conclusion, the incorporation of coco glucoside in biological pretreatment presents a promising strategy to improve the bioconversion potential of oil palm biomass. This approach presents a promising strategy to enhance the efficiency of biological pretreatment. It also supports sustainable waste management while promoting the development of a circular bioeconomy in the palm oil sector.