CELLULOSE NANOCRYSTALS SYNTHESIS FROM OIL PALM EMPTY FRUIT BUNCH THROUGH OXIDATION METHOD BY USING AMMONIUM PERSULFATE

• Main Author: Madani, Haroki
• Format: Theses
• Language: Indonesia
• Subjects: Teknik kimia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/37305
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Cellulose Nanocrystals (CNCs) is one of new and renewable advanced nanomaterial with combination of attractive properties. Now, CNCs is commonly fabricated through sulphuric acid hydrolysis from various lignocellulosic sources. Sulphuric acid hydrolysis requires multiple-step process, long time overall process, and produces dangerous waste to the environment. As an alternative, oxidation method using ammonium persulfate (APS) is simpler and produces safer waste. For the raw materials, on of abundant alternative in Indonesia is oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) with amount of 32 million tons at 2015. With 40% cellulose content, OPEFB is potential as raw material for CNCs production. To the best of our knowledge, the research about CNCs fabrication from OPEFB through APS oxidation method has not ever been performed. In this research, four strategies through APS oxidation method have been performed, those are direct method, method with alkali pre-treatment, method with alkali pre-treatment and bleaching, method with Soxhlet extraction. Effect of APS concentration (1-2 M), temperature (60-80oC), and reaction time (5 -15 hours) to the characteristics of products were studied. Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) characterization have been performed to analyze particle size, particle morphology, and crystallinity index of products. Product of direct method with APS concentration of 1 M still contains lignin.Increasing APS concentration to 2 M succeeded to produce needle-like CNCs with length of 95.8 ± 14.5 nm, diameter of 7.4 ± 0.9 nm, and crystallinity index of 74.8%. Best parameter for direct method are with APS concentration of 2 M, temperature of 60oC, and 15 hours reaction time. With alkali pre-treatment and bleaching, APS consumption can be decreased to 1 M and was obtained spherical CNCs with diameter of 21.9 ± 0.9 nm and crystallinity index of 78.4%. Meanwhile, extractives content in the OPEFB does not have significant effect to the obtained products. Kata kunci: Cellulose Nanocrystals, lignoselulose, oil palm empty fruit bunch, ammonium persulfate.