Anis Izzati Najwa Ibrahim creator author. text my 2020 monographic eng xiii, 94 pages : illustrations ; 30 cm. + 1 CD-ROM Background of the study was evaluated the optimum manufacturing parameters to dry OPT using microwave approach. Experimental samples were subjected to fresh OPT and optimum OPT of the microwave drying process, in which the power intensity and exposure time were ranging from 600 to 1000 W and from 10 to 15 min, respectively. The optimum condition was determined by Response Surface Methodology (RSM) approach under the scope of Central Composite Design (CCD). The experimental and predicted values of samples were compared. The effect of the microwave drying process on the OPT samples was a study based on its physical, mechanical, and chemical properties. Physical properties of OPT were evaluated, such as moisture content and density. The mechanical properties were verified by impact and compression testing. The anatomical features of the optimum microwave thermal OPT were observed using Scanning Electron Microscopy. The degradation of the specimens was determined using Thermogravimetric Analyzer. From this study, the optimum parameters in microwave drying can be obtained by using (RSM) with power intensity and exposure time of 800 W and 11 min, respectively. The moisture content of optimum OPT show specific decreasing values. The outcome of mechanical properties showed that the optimum OPT was better than the fresh OPT. The chemical analysis was also performed to investigate the chemical constituents in optimum OPT, and the results showed that the microwave drying process influenced the chemical composition in OPT. This is due to the degradation of cellulose and hemicellulose compared to lignin and extractives that are slightly degraded towards microwave drying process. The changes like cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and extractives during the drying process contribute to the improvement of its hygroscopicity and stability specialized Anis Izzati Najwa Ibrahim Faculty of Industrial Sciences and Technology Thesis (Master of Science ) -- Universiti Malaysia Pahang – 2020 Includes bibliographical references Faculty of Industrial Sciences and Technology Dissertations Universities and colleges Dissertations Theses THE0009136(Local) UMP 220308 20251125105846.0 eng