Palm oil extraction from fresh fruit bunches (FFBs) yields aqueous and solid byproducts. The empty fruit bunch (EFB) is the most abundant of the solid residues, comprising approximately 21 wt % of the fresh fruit bunch (FFB) weight. Nowadays, EFB finds limited uses as composting material in plantations or low-grade fuel in boilers. However, with a worldwide production of more than sixty-eight million tons per year, and high cellulose (50.9%), lignin (17.84%), and hemicellulose (29.6%) contents, EFB has the potential to become a biomaterials source. Colombia is the fourth global producer, with 1.6 M tons of palm oil per year. There is a diversity of palm oil cultivars and progenies in Colombia. Some are exclusive of African origin from Elaeis guineensis cultivars (e.g., Deli x La Mé, Deli x Ghana, and Deli x Malawi), and others are interspecific hybrids known as OxG from a cross between African palm Elaeis guineensis and American palm Elaeis oleifera (e.g., Coari x La Mé). These cultivars exhibit distinct properties and characteristics, such as oil productivity, extraction rate, and disease resistance. This work compares the physicochemical composition of spikelets and central axis from fresh and sterilized EFB from E. guineensis (Deli x La Mé) and the E. oleifera x E. guineensis hybrid (Coari x La Mé) cultivars grown in Colombia. SEM, TGA, XRF, and calorific value measurements provided information regarding the material's morphology, composition, thermal properties, and energy content. The lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose contents suggest slight compositional differences (up to 3 wt %) between the two cultivars. The material's surface structure is similar across all samples, with rough fibers containing silica bodies functioning as a defensive barrier against bacterial and fungal attacks.

Physicochemical properties of palm oil empty fruit bunches from E. guineensis and E. oleifera x E. guineensis cultivars grown in Colombia

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