Cellulose from pineapple leaf fibers as one of the natural polymer which has biodegradable property in a nanometer’s scale, can be formed as a filler in composite of Poly(vinyl) Alcohol/PVA is expected to increase the physical, thermal, and barrier properties of composite films similar to conventional plastic. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of fibrillation of cellulose fibers from pineapple leaf fibers using a combined technique of chemical-mechanical treatments, to investigate the reinforcing effect of concentration of nanocellulose fibrils in the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix on physical properties, thermal properties, water vapor transmission rate, light transmittance and morphological with and without addition of glycerol. Nanocellulose was made from cellulose of pineapple leaf fiber using wet milling (Ultra Fine Grinder). The composite film production was carried out by using casting solution method by mixing PVA solution with nanocellulose (10-50%) and glycerol (0-1%). The characterization of film covered physical properties (thickness, moisture content and density), thermal properties, permeability (WVTR), light transmittance, morphology, and crystallinity. Nanocellulose from pineapple leaf fibers was produced by Ultra Fine Grinder shows that the size reduction process was accurate. Nanocellulose addition on PVA composite film was affected to increasing the physical, thermal, and barrier properties. Meanwhile, decreasing the percentage of composite film transmittance, thus the transparency decrease (opaque). Water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) the film was increased with increasing glycerol concentration, but the physical and thermal properties was decreased.

<p>Pengembangan <em>biofoam</em> sebagai alternatif pengganti styrofoam telah banyak dilakukan. Bahan utama dalam pembuatan <em>biofoam</em> adalah pati murni, namun biofoam yang dihasilkan masih bersifat rapuh dan mudah menyerap air. Oleh karena itu adonan <em>biofoam</em> perlu ditambahkan bahan lain diantaranya <em>plasticizer</em>, pati modifikasi, polimer sintetis dan serat. Salah satu serat alam yang cukup potensial yaitu tandan kosong sawit (TKS). Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui pengaruh pembuatan <em>biofoam</em> dari serat yang dimodifikasi dengan beberapa metode yang berbeda serta dengan konsentrasi yang berbeda sehingga dapat menghasilkan <em>biofoam</em> dengan karakteristik terbaik. Proses pembuatan biofoam dilakukan menggunakan teknik <em>thermopressing</em> dengan mencampurkan tapioka, <em>Polivinil alcohol</em> (PVA) dan dan jenis modifikasi STKS (selulosa tandan kosong sawit), NSTKS (nanoselulosa tandan kosong sawit) dan SATKS (selulosa asetat tandan kosong sawit) dengan konsentrasi serat (1%, 3% dan 5%). Karakterisasi <em>biofoam</em> meliputi daya serap air, kuat tekan, densitas, kristalinitas, titik leleh (Tm) dan morfologi. Jenis modifikasi NSTKS dan SATKS pada konsentrasi tinggi menghasilkan nilai daya serap air tinggi, kuat tekan rendah dan densitas rendah. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa STKS 5% dapat menurunkan daya serap air, meningkatkan densitas dan kuat tekan.</p><p align="center"><strong>English Version Abstract</strong></p><p align="center"><strong><strong>Effect of Addition Various Modification Empty Fruit Bunches Fiber on Functional Properties of Biodegradable Foam</strong></strong></p><p>Biodegradable foam as alternative to styrofoam has been developed with pure starch as the main ingredient, but biofoam produced is still fragile and easyly absorbs water. Therefore, other materials such as plasticizer, modified starch, synthetic polymers and fiber need to be added into dough formulation. One of the natural fibers of considerable potential is oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB). The purpose of this study was determine the effect of incorporation of different concentration of fibers modified with several different methods on the biofoam characteristics. Biofoam was prepared by mixing tapioca, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and various modification of EFB, namely STKS (empty fruit bunches cellulose), NSTKS (empty fruit bunches nanocellulose) and SATKS (empty fruit bunches cellulose acetate) by thermopressing technique. Each type of cellulose was added in three different concentrartion (1%, 3%, and 5%). Biofoam characterization included water absorbtion capacity, compressive strength, density, crystalinity, melting point (Tm) and morphology. Biofoam made from NSTKS and SATKS with high concentration have high water absorb capacity, low compressive strenght and density. The results showed that the addition of STKS at a concentration of 5% decreased water absorbtion capacity and, increased density and compressive strength.</p>

Agromaterials such as starch and fiber are very promising raw materials to reduce our dependence on polystyrene. Corn hominy, a by-product of the corn milling industry, is a potential source to reinforce starch-baked foam. The effects of corn hominy and PVOH addition on mechanical properties of Cassava starch foam were investigated. Different formulations of Cassava starch, corn hominy and PVOH were mixed with liquid to get total solids at 50% and baked in a thermopressing machine at 150-170°C for 2 min. The results showed that corn hominy and PVOH addition can improve compressibility and tensile strength of the foams but gave denser foam and darker color. Ratio of tapioca: corn hominy: PVOH ¼ (75:25):30% gave the best foam properties.

The objective of this study was to develop biopolymer based films as alternative of synthetic petroleum based-packaging. The ZnO NPs (0.5 and 1% w/w carrageenan) and beeswax (3% v/v), as hydrophobic component, were incorporated into carrageenan polymer to produced bionanocomposite films. The resulting films were characterized using SEM. The physical and mechanical properties of films were also investigated. The addition of ZnO NPs and beeswax resulted in different morphological surface as well as influenced the surface color of carrageenan film. Incorporation of ZnO NPs increased TS and EAB of the film, while WVTR decreased. Furthermore, the presence of beeswax within the carrageenan and or its nanocomposite films promoted synergistic effect with ZnO NPs in reducing WVTR and EAB, however decreased TS of films. Therefore, these bionanocomposite films were potentially used in packaging industry to maintain the quality of food stuffs.

Biodegradable foam (biofoam) packaging is made from natural polymers as the main raw material and it is environmentally friendly. However, this packaging is water sensitive, thus it is not suitable for products with high moisture content. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of surface modification of cassava starch‐based biofoam, using Alkyl Ketene Dimer/AKD as sizing agent, on its hydrophobic characteristics. A completely randomized factorial design is carried out using two factors and two replications. Factor A is a type of pulp of oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) with different treatment modifications (pulp A; pulp B; pulp C) and factor B is the concentration of AKD (0%; 2.5%; 3.3%; 5.0%). Biofoam is made by thermopressing. Its characterization observed includes physical properties, mechanical properties, and morphological structure. The results show that surface modification of biofoam with AKD significantly effected its moisture content, density, water absorption capacity, and compressive strength. The addition of AKD externally as a sizing agent is able to reduce water absorption capacity by an average of 83.26% compared to biofoam without coating with AKD.