Research on making films using chitosan, nanocellulose from pineapple leaf fiber, and glutaraldehyde were carried out as an effort to obtain alternative biodegradable plastics. Chitosan has low mechanical, therefore nanocellulose is added from pineapple leaf fibers and glutaraldehyde additives. This research was conducted to obtain the optimum glutaraldehyde additive variable that functions as a crosslinker. What chitosan used was 2% (w/v solution) and nanocellulose 3% (w/w chitosan) based on optimum results from previous research. The method used a casting method, chitosan and nanocellulose are dissolved and heated in acetic acid 1% then glutaraldehyde is added during cold and cast. Variable of glutaraldehyde added by 0%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 3% (w/w chitosan). Tensile strength, elongation, functional groups, and absorbance were used to characterize film. The results showed that the results of FT-IR were a spectrum of chitosan and indicated the crosslinking between chitosan and glutaraldehyde. The tensile strength values change with the addition of glutaraldehyde. The optimum value of adding glutaraldehyde is 1% based on the results of tensile strength and the lowest absorbance.

Tandan Kosong Sawit (TKS) merupakan limbah padat dari industri pengolahan kelapa sawit yang melimpah di Indonesia dan mengandung banyak selulosa. Microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) dapat diproduksi dari serat TKS. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mensintesis MFC dari serat TKS melalui proses alkalisasi,  pemutihan dan hidrolisis. TKS dicacah dan dihaluskan hingga berukuran 60 mesh untuk proses pembuatan pulp TKS. Proses alkalisasi dilakukan dalam reaktor menggunakan 4% NaOH pada suhu 90˚C selama 2 jam dan dilanjutkan dengan proses pemutihan mengunakan 20% H2O2 pada suhu kamar selama 2 jam. Kemudian proses hidrolisis dilakukan menggunakan asam oksalat 5% pada suhu 80°C selama 1 jam. MFC yang dihasilkan dianalisis menggunakan Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray Difraction (XRD), Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) dan Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). Hasil analisis FTIR menunjukkan bahwa adanya penurunan kadar lignoselulosa yang dikonfirmasi juga oleh hasil uji kuantitatif kadar lignin. Hasil uji XRD menunjukkan peningkatan nilai kristalinitas. Hasil uji TGA menunjukkan hidrolisis menggunakan asam oksalat 5% dapat meningkatkan area degradasi termal dan hasil FESEM menunjukkan telah terjadi proses fibrilisasi serat dan penurunan diameter ukuran serat dari 400 µm menjadi 10 µm. Dari hasil penelitian ini, jika dilihat dari hasil kristalinitas, sifat termal dan ukuran diameter serat, proses hidrolisis menggunakan asam oksalat 5% adalah proses yang baik untuk pembuatan MFC dari serat TKS. Synthesis of Micro-Fibrillated Cellulose (MFC) from Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches (OPEFB) Fiber with Oxalic Acid HydrolysisAbstractOil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches (OPEFB), which is a solid waste from the palm oil processing industry, has a high availability in Indonesia, and it contains a lot of cellulose. Microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) can be produced from OPEFB fiber. This work’s objective was to synthesize MFC from fibers of OPEFB through the process of alkalization, bleaching process, and the hydrolysis process using an oxalic acid solution. The procedure began chopped fiber until 60 mesh, and alkalization process of pulping OPEFB in the reactor using 4% NaOH at the temperature of 90 ˚C for 2 hours. It continued with the addition of 20% H2O2 at room temperature for 2 hours. The hydrolysis process is carried out using an oxalic acid 5 % at temperature of 80°C for 1 hour. MFC was analyzed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). The FTIR analysis showed that the quantitative result also confirmed a decrease in lignocellulose content. XRD result showed an increase in the value of crystallinity. TGA results showed that hydrolysis using oxalic acid can increase the area of thermal degradation, and FESEM results showed there is a decreasing diameter of fiber from 400 µm to 10 µm. From the results of this study, when viewed from the results of crystallinity, thermal properties, and size of the fiber diameter, the hydrolysis process using 5% oxalic acid is a good process for making MFCs from TKS fibers.