Preparation of sulfonated-kaolin (sKao) has been conducted and used as filler on chitosan matrix via solution casting method, namely chitosan/sKao (Cs/sKao). Swelling degree, cationic exchange capacity and thermal stability were evaluated to determine chitosan/sKao membranes performance as proton exchange membrane in a fuel cell. Functional group analysis of chitosan, sKao and synthesized products were studied using Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) spectroscopy. In this study, swelling degree and swelling area of Cs/sKao were also examined to determine of membrane ability to swelling which compare to unmodified chitosan/kaolin (Cs/Kao). The presence of sKao in chitosan matrix was able to improve cationic exchange capacity (CEC) which proved by the morphological study of membrane surface after CEC test. Moreover, Thermal stability of Cs/sKao showed the membrane has meet requirement for Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) application.

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The influence of fiber size on mechanical and water absorption properties of recycled Polypropylene/Palm Empty Fruit Bunch (namely, rPP/EFB) bio-composites has been conducted study. rPP/EFB bio-composite was a compounding of recycled polypropylene (rPP) and palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) with different sizes, i.e. particle size (150 mesh sieve escaped, referred as p-EFB) and short fiber (s-EFB). Manufacturing of the bio-composites was prepared by the solution method in boiling xylene via reactively process using benzoyl peroxide as an initiator. The addition of coupling agent, such as maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MAH) was improve the chemical interaction between the rPP and EFB which evidenced by the shift of the wave number of raw materials on infra-red spectra of rPP/EFB bio-composite. Mechanical properties test showed that s-EFB was increase the tensile strength value up to 95% compare to rPP, higher than the p-EFB which is 56% compare to rPP. However, the elongation percentage of the bio-composites contain s-EFB was lower than the bio-composites contain p-EFB. Water absorption analysis also performed in this study to determine the biodegradability of bio-composites. In this study, fiber size gives a considerable influence on the mechanical properties of rPP/EFB bio-composites, however not significant on water absorption properties.

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ABSTRAKPenelitian ini bertujuan untuk menentukan teknik penyimpanan yang efektif antara penyimpanan air cooling dan vacuum cooling selama masa penyimpanan (0, 4, 8, dan 12 minggu) untuk mempertahankan masa simpan labu kabocha. Parameter yang dianalisis adalah perubahan pH, kadar proksimat (air, pH, protein, gula) dan kadar β-karoten. Analisis kadar air menggunakan analisis Gravimetri, protein menggunakan metode makro Kjeldahl dan gula menggunakan metode Luff Schrool. Analisis kadar β-karoten menggunakan metode spektrofotometer UV-Vis yang disertai dengan validasi metode. Selama proses penyimpanan air cooling maupun vacuum cooling, pH, kadar air, protein dan β-karoten mengalami penurunan, tetapi penurunan pada penyimpanan air cooling lebih besar. Kandungan gula mengalami kenaikan selama delapan minggu dan menurun pada minggu terakhir. Validasi metode menunjukkan hasil yang baik, dibuktikan dari nilai linieritas, akurasi, presisi, limits of detection (LOD), limits of quantitation (LOQ) dan uji perolehan kembali masing-masing sebesar 0,998; 98,8 %; 3,39 -7,73 %; 0,011 ppm; 0,016 ppm; dan 112 %. Kesimpulan penelitian ini adalah penyimpanan vacuum cooling merupakan teknik penyimpanan yang lebih baik untuk labu kuning Kabocha dibandingkan penyimpanan air cooling.Kata kunci : β-karoten, air cooling, proksimat, vacuum cooling. ABSTRACTThe aim of the research was to determine the effective storage technique between the air cooling and vacuum cooling technique during storage process (0, 4, 8 and 12 weeks) to increase the shelflife of Kabocha pumpkin. Parameters measured during storage process were pH, proximate content (water, pH, protein, sugar) and β-carotene content. Analysis of water content, protein and sugar were analyzed by Gravimetric analysis; Makro Kjehldal method, and Luff Schrool method, respectively. β-carotene content was analyzed by UV-Vis spectrophotometric method. The pH, water, protein and β-carotene content decreased during storage process using air cooling and vacuum cooling storage.