Synthesis of graphene oxide from synthetic graphite utilizing oil palm trunk waste via modification of hummers' method.

The synthetic graphite was produced from oil palm trunk waste at much more lower heating temperature compared to the commercially graphite available in the market, which is produce at the temperature of 2500 °C and above by using inorganic and non-waste sources. However, synthetic graphite being used in this study produced from oil palm trunk waste at the heating temperature of 800 °C, 20 ° per minute heating rate with soaking time 2 hours. The synthetic graphite produce from oil palm trunk waste was less dense than commercial graphite about two times. This synthetic graphite produce from oil palm trunk waste will be further exfoliated to produce graphene oxide through modification of Hummers' method. The modification has been done in terms of amount of chemical being used in exfoliation process. The amount of chemical been used is triple up from the normal amount. The Graphene Oxide obtained was further characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) and Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR). From XRD analysis, the graphene oxide peak was observed from 10 to 11 degrees at 2Θ for sample of graphene oxide from triple amount of chemical being used. From the study of AFM, the single layer of graphene oxide also presents in the sample of the graphene oxide produce from triple parameters. All of the functional groups present in graphene oxide produced from commercial graphite also present in graphene oxide produced from oil palm trunk waste with triple parameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]