ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF BIO-OIL FROM OIL PALM EMPTY FRUIT BUNCHES AGAINST STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS AND ESCHERICHIA COLI

Abstract

 Empty fruit bunches (EFB) rich in lignocellulose are produced as 
waste in the palm oil processing industry. Although abundant, they have not been 
fully utilized.  EFB waste has the potential to be used as a chemical feedstock for 
bio-oil production through pyrolysis. Bio-oil contains phenolic compounds that are 
antimicrobial and have economic value. This study aimed to investigate the effects 
of variations in pyrolysis temperature and time on the phenol content in bio-oil, 
evaluate the antimicrobial activity of bio-oil against bacteria, and qualitatively 
identify the chemical compounds that make up bio-oil using GC-MS. The pyrolysis 
process was varied at temperatures of 300, 350, and 400°C, with times of 45 and 
60 min. The highest bio-oil yield was obtained at 400 °C for 60 min (33.51±7.18%), 
whereas the highest total phenolic content was obtained at 300 °C for 45 min 
(15.06±4.90%). Antibacterial activity varied with pyrolysis conditions and bio-oil 
concentration. Pyrolysis at 400°C for 45 min and 60 min were identified as the 
potential conditions, as they produced bio-oil with the largest significant 
antimicrobial activity against E. coli (inhibition zone of 8.08 mm) and S. aureus 
(inhibition zone of 8.56 mm). GC–MS analysis identified phenols, alcohols, esters, 
ketones, aldehydes, carboxylic acids, and ethers as major compound groups. These 
findings demonstrate that pyrolysis conditions strongly influence the yield and 
chemical composition of EFB bio-oil and its antibacterial activity

Keywords:
antibacterial, bio-oil, gc-ms, phenol, pyrolysis