Batang kelapa sawit mengandung kadar pati yang tinggi sehingga memiliki potensi digunakan sebagai bahan baku bioplastik. Kadar amilosa dalam pati batang kelapa sawit dapat dinaikkan melalui proses modifikasi dengan pelarut asetat. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk meningkatkan sifat kimia (kadar amilosa) dan termal pati batang kelapa sawit melalui proses modifikasi sebagai bahan baku bioplastik. Dalam penelitian ini, pati batang kelapa sawit diperoleh melalui proses ekstraksi. Modifikasi pati batang kelapa sawit dilakukan dengan menggunakan larutan asetat (CH3COOH+CH3COONa) pH 7. Karakterisasi pati batang sawit dilakukan dengan melihat komposisi kimia (kadar air, abu, protein, lemak, amilosa, dan amilopektin), analisis gugus , dan karakteristik termal. Hasil karakterisasi komposisi kimia pati batang kelapa sawit termodifikasi menunjukkan peningkatan kadar amilosa dari 26% menjadi 29%. Kandungan rantai lurus dalam amilosa yang semakin banyak akan meningkatkan kestabilan pati. Hasil Thermal Gravimetry Analysis (TGA) menunjukkan bahwa pati batang kelapa sawit termodifikasi lebih cepat terdegradasi dibandingkan pati batang kelapa sawit tidak termodifikasi/alami, sedangkan data Derivative Thermal Gravimetry (DTG) dan analisis Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) menunjukkan pengurangan massa pati batang kelapa sawit termodifikasi lebih kecil dari pati batang kelapa sawit tidak termodifikasi/alami serta pati batang kelapa sawit termodifikasi mempunyai Tg (Gelatinization Temperature) yang lebih rendah. Hasil penelitian pati batang kelapa sawit termodifikasi ini diharapkan dapat diaplikasikan sebagai bahan baku bioplastik yang ramah lingkungan.

Sonokeling (Dalbergia latifolia Roxb) stands are widely lost throughout the world. Sonokeling is currently classified as an Appendix II CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) wood. Therefore, a study on the existence and characteristics of Sonokeling were expected to contribute in providing population data and basic properties of the wood. Exploration was conducted in Plot No. 25, KPH (Forest Management Unit) Gundih, Perum Perhutani Cepu, Central Java. Sonokeling stands have been planted since 1975 (more than 40 years-old) in an area of 54.20 ha, which was not productive for Teak and mixed with Mahogany. Sample was taken from upper part of stem with around 30 cm in diameter and 30 cm in length. The sample was further cutted into 2 x 2 x 2 cm for physical, 30 x 2 x 2 cm for Modulus of Elasticity (MOE) and Modulus of Rupture (MOR), and 4 x 2 x 2 cm for Compression Strength Parallel to the Grain (CSPG) tests. The results showed that specific gravity of sapwood dan heartwood were 0.79 and 0.82, respectively. The average values of MOE, MOR, and CSPG were 117,722, 1122.19, and 1022.93 kgf/cm2, respectively. Therefore, Sonokeling can be classified into Strength Class II.

The objective of this research was to determine the wood basic properties of eight years-old fast-growing teakwood (Tectona grandis – Platinum teak wood), in the radial direction of the stem. The anatomical features of the examined teak wood showed semi-ring porous and in general, they had a similarity to those of the conventional teak wood. The ray cell proportion was increased along with the increased distance from the pith area. The size of vessel cell tended to change from pith to the outer part. The radial (R) and tangential (T) shrinkage had improvement compared to those of five years-old Platinum teak wood. The R and T shrinkages were 2.89% and 6.2%, respectively. The present results suggested that wood properties of eight years-old Platinum teak wood is more stable than those of five years-old as reported in the previous study. The compression strength was also increased during the increase of growth age. The values of compression perpendicular and parallel to the grain were 76.74 kg/cm2 and 367.9 kg/cm2, respectively. The increasing of the radial properties indicated that eight years-old Platinum teak wood was still in juvenile stage.

Removing the outer part of bamboo for manufacturing flat bamboo lamination has disadvantage on the density of the product. The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the fixation of compressed bamboo from curved cross-section slats. The compression of bamboo slats using densification technique was aimed for uniform density. Furthermore, steam treatments were conducted to fix the deformation. The compressed bamboo slats revealed that the density of the samples at the bottom parts increased from 0.40–0.56 g/cm3 to 0.89–1.05 g/cm3 after pressing with a compression level between 46.98–63.97%, while the samples in the middle parts increased from 0.70–0.83 g/cm3 to 1.02–1.18 g/cm3 with the compression level of 32.92–41.50%. These results were slightly higher than that of the upper parts, which was between 0.91–0.98 g/cm3. The recovery of set decreased and the weight loss increased with  increasing  temperature and steam treatment time. Fixation of compressive deformation could be achieved at 160°C within 60 minutes. The bottom parts of samples experienced a slightly greater weight loss compared to the middle parts, i.e. 8.38% and 7.49%, respectively. The anatomical structure of bamboo tended to deform during densification process. Furthermore, the steam treatments affected  the colour of densified bamboo which became darker. From this experiment, it can be concluded that the manufacture of laminated bamboo from bamboo slats can be uniformed in strength by equalizing the density at the bottom and middle with the upper parts through the densification technique. However, further research should be conducted to know the delamination and shear strength of the bamboo lamination.

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