Investigation Characteristics of Pulp Fibers as Green Potential Polymer Reinforcing Agents

Three kinds of pulp fiber (i.e. kenaf, pineapple and coconut fiber)were characterized as reinforcing agents in compositematerials to be applied at automotive interior industry.Abetter understanding on characteristics of fiber will lead to enhance interface adhesion between fiber and matrices. Furthermore, it will improve the properties of polymer significantly. Chemical, surface compositions as well as morphology of pulp fiber were investigated using TAPPI standard test method, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and optical microscopy, respectively. Further observation on morphology of the fiber was conducted by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). From this study, pineapple pulps showed the highest α-cellulose content than that of kenaf or coconut pulps. However, it has the lowest hemicellulose content among them. This condition takes responsibility for the difficulties of pineapple pulps defibrillation process. Much fines or external fibrillations are presence on both kenaf and pineapple pulp's morphology, but it is not presence in the coconut pulps.Moreover, coconut fiber is shorter than the other two fibers with diameter size estimated in the order pineapple < kenaf < coconut pulps. FT-IR analysis shown quite similar absorption fromall pulps, except for coconut pulps due to the remaining lignin on the surface of fiber that showed by the presence of C-O phenol stretching at 1280 cm-1. Finally, it is reported that kenaf pulps fiber is suitable candidate for polymer reinforcing agents compared to pineapple and coconut pulps fiber

INVESTIGATION CHARACTERISTICS OF PULP FIBERS AS GREEN POTENTIAL POLYMER REINFORCING AGENTS

INVESTIGATION CHARACTERISTICS OF PULP FIBERS AS GREEN POTENTIAL POLYMER REINFORCING AGENTS. Three kinds of pulp fiber (i.e. kenaf, pineapple and coconut fiber)were characterized as reinforcing agents in compositematerials to be applied at automotive interior industry.Abetter understanding on characteristics of fiber will lead to enhance interface adhesion between fiber and matrices. Furthermore, it will improve the properties of polymer significantly. Chemical, surface compositions as well as morphology of pulp fiber were investigated using TAPPI standard test method, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and optical microscopy, respectively. Further observation on morphology of the fiber was conducted by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). From this study, pineapple pulps showed the highest α-cellulose content than that of kenaf or coconut pulps. However, it has the lowest hemicellulose content among them. This condition takes responsibility for the difficulties of pineapple pulps defibrillation process.Much fines or external fibrillations are presence on both kenaf and pineapple pulp’s morphology, but it is not presence in the coconut pulps.Moreover, coconut fiber is shorter than the other two fibers with diameter size estimated in the order pineapple < kenaf < coconut pulps. FT-IR analysis shown quite similar absorption fromall pulps, except for coconut pulps due to the remaining lignin on the surface of fiber that showed by the presence of C-O phenol stretching at 1280 cm-1. Finally, it is reported that kenaf pulps fiber is suitable candidate for polymer reinforcing agents compared to pineapple and coconut pulps fiber

UTILIZATION OF MICRO SISAL FIBERS AS REINFORCEMENT AGENT AND POLYPROPYLENE OR POLYLACTIC ACID AS POLYMER MATRICES IN BIOCOMPOSITES MANUFACTURE

Sisal (Agave sisalana) as a perennial tropical plant grows abundantly in Indonesia. Its fibers can be used as the reinforcement agent of biocomposite products. Utilization of sisal as natural fiber has some notable benefits compared to synthetic fibers, such as renewable, light in weight, and low in cost. Manufacture of biocomposite requires the use of matrix such as thermoplastic polymer, e.g. polypropylene (PP) and polylactic acid (PLA) to bond together with the reinforcement agent (e.g. sisal fibers). In relevant, experiment was conducted on biocomposites manufacture that comprised sisal fibers and PP as well as PLA. Sisal fibers were converted into pulp, then refined to micro-size fibrillated fibers such that their diameter reduced to about 10 μm, and dried in an oven. The dry microfibrillated sisal pulp fibers cellulose (MSFC) were thoroughly mixed with either PP or PLA with varying ratios of MSFC/PP as well as MSFC/PLA, and then shaped into the mat (i.e. MSFC-PP and MSFC-PLA biocomposites). Two kinds of shaping was employed, i.e. hot-press molding and injection molding. In the hot-press molding, the ratio of MSFC/PP as well as MSFC/PLA ranged about 30/70-50/50. Meanwhile in the injection (employed only on assembling the MSFC-PLA biocomposite), the ratio of MSFC/PLA varied about 10/90-30/70. The resulting shaped MSFC-PP and MSFC-PLA biocomposites were then tested of its physical and mechanical properties. With the hot-press molding device, the physical and mechanical (strength) properties of MSFC-PLA biocomposite were higher than those of MSFC-PP biocomposite. The optimum ratio of MSFC/PP as well as MSFC/PLA reached concurrently at 40/60. The strengths of MSFC-PP as well as MSFC-PLA biocomposites were greater than those of individual polymer (PP and PLA). With the injection molding device, only the MSFC-PLA biocomposite was formed and its strengths reached maximum at 30/70 ratio. The particular strengths (MOR and MOE) of MSFC-PLA biocomposite shaped with injection molding were lower than those with hot-press molding, both at 30/70 ratio. The overall MOR of such MSFC- PLA biocomposite was lower than that of pure PLA, while its MOE was still mostly higher

PICKERING EMULSION TECHNOLOGY IN FABRICATE CELLULOSE FOAM FROM OIL PALM EMPTY FRUIT BUNCH WASTE

PICKERING EMULSION TECHNOLOGY IN FABRICATE CELLULOSE FOAM FROM OILPALM EMPTY FRUIT BUNCH WASTE. Cellulose from the oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) waste can make a porous material. This study aims to make cellulose foam with Pickering emulsion technology used cellulose nanofiber as a Pickering agent. The mechanism of Pickering emulsion is learned from foamability and stability of foam in the presence of various concentrations of surfactant. The result showed that using Pickering emulsion technology only needed surfactant with a small concentration to improve foamability and stability. The addition of CNF indeed improved the stability and foamability with the Pickering effect. The stability test shows that the foam stabilized with CNF appeared to be relatively stable. In contrast to the CNF free system, the foams were collapse in three days tested. Structures of foam was characterized using an optical microscope and showed that the foam was composed into two- or three dimensional microstructures formed by gas bubble of wet foam in random orientations. This process generated the lightweight Cellulose foam from OPEFB waste, with a density of 0.07 g/cm3. Using Pickering emulsion technology to make cellulose foam can be one way to overcome OPEFB waste and this foam is potential for various applications

Utilization of Micro Sisal Fibers as Reinforcement Agent and Polypropylene or Polylactic Acid as Polymer Matrices in Biocomposites Manufacture

Sisal (Agave sisalana) as a perennial tropical plant grows abundantly in Indonesia. Its fibers can be used as the reinforcement agent of biocomposite products. Utilization of sisal as natural fiber has some notable benefits compared to synthetic fibers, such as renewable, light in weight, and low in cost. Manufacture of biocomposite requires the use of matrix such as thermoplastic polymer, e.g. polypropylene (PP) and polylactic acid (PLA) to bond together with the reinforcement agent (e.g. sisal fibers). In relevant, experiment was conducted on biocomposites manufacture that comprised sisal fibers and PP as well as PLA. Sisal fibers were converted into pulp, then refined to micro-size fibrillated fibers such that their diameter reduced to about 10 μm, and dried in an oven. The dry microfibrillated sisal pulp fibers cellulose (MSFC) were thoroughly mixed with either PP or PLA with varying ratios of MSFC/PP as well as MSFC/PLA, and then shaped into the mat (i.e. MSFC-PP and MSFC-PLA biocomposites). Two kinds of shaping was employed, i.e. hot-press molding and injection molding. In the hot-press molding, the ratio of MSFC/PP as well as MSFC/PLA ranged about 30/70-50/50. Meanwhile in the injection (employed only on assembling the MSFC-PLA biocomposite), the ratio of MSFC/PLA varied about 10/90-30/70. The resulting shaped MSFC-PP and MSFC-PLA biocomposites were then tested of its physical and mechanical properties. With the hot-press molding device, the physical and mechanical (strength) properties of MSFC-PLA biocomposite were higher than those of MSFC-PP biocomposite. The optimum ratio of MSFC/PP as well as MSFC/PLA reached concurrently at 40/60. The strengths of MSFC-PP as well as MSFC-PLA biocomposites were greater than those of individual polymer (PP and PLA). With the injection molding device, only the MSFC-PLA biocomposite was formed and its strengths reached maximum at 30/70 ratio. The particular strengths (MOR and MOE) of MSFC-PLA biocomposite shaped with injection molding were lower than those with hot-press molding, both at 30/70 ratio. The overall MOR of such MSFC- PLA biocomposite was lower than that of pure PLA, while its MOE was still mostly higher

Panel products made of oil palm trunk bagasse (OPTB) and MMA (Methyl methacrylate)-styrofoam binder

The waste product left over from pressing or extracting oil palm trunk (OPT) for sugar purposes is known as oil palm trunk bagasse (OPTB). This residue contains mainly vascular bundles and small amount of parenchyma. These materials are potentially utilized for making panel products such as particleboard (OPTBparticleboard). Objective of this study was to evaluate physical mechanical properties of OPTB-particleboard. For preserving the durability, this work was intended to apply 15% mixture of methyl methacrylate (MMA) cured with Styrofoam as the binder with a ratio (w/w) of 3:1. OPTB-particleboard was made according to the Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS A5908: 2003) with a target density of 0.75 g/cm3 and dimensions of 25 x 25 x 1 cm3. Hot pressing was a condition set at a pressure of 30 kg/cm2 and a temperature of 160 °C for 15 minutes. Physical and mechanical properties were tested according to JIS A 5908:2003 standard. The results showed that physical and mechanical properties of the OPTB-particleboard did not meet the standard. The characteristics of OPTB still easily absorb water even though MMA-Styrofoam should hinder water ingress. Additionally, the poor quality of the OPTB-particleboard was primarily due to the binder's inadequate composition. Optimum values reached when IB, MOR, and MOE were 0.026 MPa, 6.69 MPa, and 892 MPa, respectively. Based on the analysis of variance, it can be concluded that there is no influence on the bottom, middle and upper parts of the origin of the OPTB except for the MOR

AUTOCLAVE-ASSISTED DEACETYLATION: A RAPID METHOD TO RECYCLING CIGARETTE BUTTS TO CELLULOSE

AUTOCLAVE-ASSISTED DEACETYLATION: A RAPID METHOD TO RECYCLINGCIGARETTE BUTTS INTO CELLULOSE. Cellulose acetate (CA)-based materials, like cigarette butts (CBs), become one of the most com-mon types of litter in the world. The toxic substances that are contained make this waste carry a hazardous risk for the environment and living organisms. Herein we report a rapid method for recycling cigarettes butts into more environmen-tally material. Cellulose was fabricated by deacetylation of cigarette butts with NaOH solution at various times 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes in autoclave. Cellulose was optimized by a degree of deacetylation (DD%) and was further charac-terized by FTIR, SEM, TGA, and DSC analysis. The DD% and FTIR results confirmed the complete conversion of cellu-lose acetate from cigarette butts to cellulose within 15 minutes. Cellulose morphology under SEM showed the surface became rougher and textured after autoclave treatment. The results of autoclave-assisted deacetylation are comparable with the conventional deacetylation. Our rapid method offers substantially reduced deacetylation from 24 hours to just 15 minutes. This study has shown that the new and straightforward method for deacetylation cellulose acetate and it is potential as an alternative method for recycling cigarette butts waste in the future

Optimization of the Stability of Nano-emulsion Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT) using α-Cyclodextrin

This study aims to determine the stability of nano-emulsion synthesized from virgin coconut oil (VCO) using α-cyclodextrin, and lecithin or tween 80 as surfactants. The study procedures included the production of nanoemulsions, examining emulsion type, density, particle size, pH, and zeta potential. The effect of the independent variables on the pH of the product was also examined using the response surface method (RSM). The results obtained 10 nano-emulsion formulas, belonging to the o/w type. The samples typically had a density range of 1.178–1.254 g/mL, with a pH of 5.0–5.5, which was considered safe for the skin. The smallest particle size of 5.495 µm was obtained from formula 6 (60 mL, 16 mL, 18 g, 6 g of water, VCO, cyclodextrin, and tween 80 as surfactant) with a zeta potential of -45.500 to -89.567 mV. Based on these results, formula 6 had the best characteristics, with an optimum pH of 5.5, small particle size, and good stability, as indicated by the zeta potential value

SURFACE MODIFICATION OF TEMPO-MEDIATED CELLULOSE NANOFIBRIL WITH OCTADECYLAMINE

In this study, surface modification of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical TEMPO-cellulose nanofibrils (TCNF) was obtained by 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) and N–hydroxysuccinimide (NHS)-mediated system. The carboxylate groups on TCNF surface was replaced by conjugation of octadecylamine (ODA). The conversion of the carboxylate groups on CNF into amide I and II groups was confirmed by attenuated transform reflectance-infrared (ATR-FTIR) and elemental analysis study. Further, decarboxylation of TCNF at higher temperature was hindered by the presence of amide groups resulted in the higher thermal stability of TCNF as observed by thermogravimetry analysis (TGA). These results suggested the possibility of modifying surface negatively charged of TCNF with conjugated amine groups into thermally stable nanocellulose

The Roles of Candida tropicalis Toward Peptide and Amino Acid Changes in Cheese Whey Fermentation

Whey is a by-product of cheese processing and is comprised of nearly 90% of the milk used. The protein content in cheese whey has the potential to create peptide and amino acids which have a functional effect in biological activity. Peptides and amino acids can be produced through fermentation with Candida tropicalis into native whey from cheese whey. The study aims to determine fermentation time in producing peptide and amino acid profiling in the fermentation of native cheese whey by Candida tropicalis. Cheese whey fermented with C. tropicalis was compared to a naturally fermented cheese whey as control at an ambient temperature for 48 hours. Peptide content identified by Folin–Ciocalteu methods and the amino acid profile is determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Fermentation results showed that the maximum content of peptides needs a 24-hour fermentation in 10.42 ppm. Peptide content decreased with further fermentation caused by the degradation of peptides into amino acids. The amino acids that increased were aspartate, glutamate, threonine, valine, isoleucine, and lysine, while those that decreased were serine, histidine, glycine, arginine, alanine, tyrosine, and methionine