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.

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.

ABSTRAKBerbagai upaya telah dilakukan untuk mengurangi ketergantungan terhadap plastik berbahan baku minyak bumi yang persediaannya terbatas dan sulit terdegradasi secara alami sehingga dapat menimbulkan masalah lingkungan. Polivinil Alkohol/PVA memiliki lingkungan dan sifat mekanis setara plastik konvensional. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh penambahan nanoselulosa metode casting solution. Percobaan dilakukan dengan mencampurkan larutan PVA dengan berbagai konsentrasi nanoselulosa serat kristalinitas dan morfologi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa penambahan nanoselulosa serat nanas 10-40% dapat meningkatkan kuat tarik dan elongasi, namun penambahan hingga 50% justru menurunkan nilai elongasi. Penambahan plasticizer gliserol cenderung menurunkan kuat tarik dan elongasi. Hal ini didukung oleh data XRD yang menunjukkan bahwa penambahan nanoselulosa efektif meningkatkan sifat kristalinitas, namun sifat tersebut menurun setelah ditambahkan gliserol. Penambahan nanoselulosa 40% dan tanpa Kata kunci ABSTRACTA variety of attempts have been made to reduce the dependence on petroleum raw materials based plastics which are limited supply the mechanical properties close to conventional plastic. The objectives of research was to know the effect of pineapple nanocellulose effective in increasing tensile strength and elongation, but the higher addition (of up to 50%) resulted in decreased elongation. The addition and without glycerol.

Pinctada maxima shells from West Nusa Tenggara has natural minerals called calcite that can be decomposed into CaO compounds as a green catalyst that heterogeneous, base and environmentally friendly. CaO compounds in the nanometer scale is one option as an alternative substitute or replacement of the use of homogeneous catalysts. The purpose of this study was to test the catalytic activity of CaO compound from the pearl shells (P. maxima) based on particle size. The catalytic activity test has been measured against the percentage of yield of methyl ester produced by alcoholysis reaction. Characterization of nano-CaO compounds has been done using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET), scanning electron microscope energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), transmittance electron microscopy (TEM), while methyl esters has been analyzed using the ASTM method. CaO catalyst on the nanometer-scale have more effective catalytic activity than micrometer scale with the yield percentage of methyl ester obtained are 81,61% and 30,71%, respectively. The results of methyl ester characterization by ASTM method has shown that methyl ester has specification that are close to diesel oil, so it can be used as an alternative or substitution on diesel engine.

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