Synthesis of Cellulose Nanocrystals from Office Waste Paper Using Ammonium Persulfate (APS)

• Main Author: AFIKAH (NIM : 13014071) - VICKY WIJAYA (NIM : 13014075), AGNES
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/25110
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

<p align="justify"> <br /> <br /> Annually, Indonesia produces solid wastes for almost 38,5 billion tons with 13% of its composition consisting of office waste papers (OWP). However, only 31% of all waste papers produced in Indonesia are recycled back to the industry. On the other hand, paper consists of 37,1-43,7% of cellulose. Hence, waste paper is a potential source of synthesizing Cellulose Nanocrystals (CNCs). CNCs are rigid rod-like cellulose particle with 3-70 nm width and 100-250 nm length. CNCs have tremendous properties such as high surface area (150-250 m2/g), low density (1,6 gr/cm3), high mechanical properties (tensile strength 7500 MPa and modulus Young 100-140 GPa), degradable (chemically and biologically), and low toxicity. <br /> <br /> Consequently, CNCs have a wide range of applications, specifically in pharmaceutical and process industry. CNCs are widely used as drug carriers, reinforcing nanomaterials, biosensors, and catalyst supports. This research aimed on synthesizing CNC for catalyst support from office waste papers through oxidation using ammonium persulfate (APS) continued with ink-component removal of produced CNCs through ultrasonication. In this research, optimum process condition for synthesizing CNCs having diameter of 21,5 nm from waste papers will be determined by varying reaction time and temperature, APS concentration. The effect of reaction temperature and ultrasonication time to CNC diameter will also be determined. The CNCs produced were characterized using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). <br /> <br /> The result shows that the optimum condition of synthesizing CNCs from office waste papers having diameter of 21,5 nm achieved with 12 hours of reaction time, 67oC of reaction temperature, and 2 M of APS. On the other hand, APS has its optimum temperature for synthesizing CNC within range 60oC – 70oC. Increasing ultrasonication time will reduces the diameter of CNC because of the improvement of particle dispersion in the suspension. According to the result of CNC characterization, CNC from office waste papers has diameter of 20,9 nm with length of 192,5 nm and crystallinity index of 63,58%. <p align="justify">