Judul: Synthesis of Hydrogel Made of Tapioca/Sago Carboxymethyl Starch and Reinforced by Oil Palm Empty–Fruit–Bunch Based Carboxymethyl Cellulose
Abstrak: Indonesia is listed as World’s top tier producer of tapioca, sago and oil palm empty-fruit-bunch (OPEFB). In this study, hydrogel was synthesized by combining tapioca-or-sago-based carboxymethyl starch (CMS), OPEFB-based carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Carboxymethyl functional group (1620-1618 cm-1) and crystallographic-peak (2θ=20o) were investigated within both CMS samples. Sago-CMS held higher yields (175.49 g/g) than tapioca-CMS. Morphologically, tapioca-CMS granules were oval, round, or polygonal, individual, scattered, full-of-indents/defective-ends, whereas sago- CMS were oval or irregular, intact and exceptionally smooth. Tapioca-CMS possessed more amorphous (86.3%-amorphous) and viscous (310.58 cP) profile than sago-CMS. Carboxymethyl functional group (1620-1607 cm-1) and crystallographic-peak (2θ=20o) were spotted as well within all CMC samples. CMC NaOH-25% possessed the highest yield (118.52 g/g). More alkali added led to more intense CMC granules degradation. CMC NaOH-25% acquired the most amorphous (59.5%-amorphous) and viscous (63.08 cP) profile. Crosslinked-PVA functional group within materials’ bond (3431-3436 cm-1 and 1384-1413 cm-1) was evidenced within all five hydrogel samples (tapioca CMS-PVA (9:1), sago CMS-PVA (9:1), tapioca CMS-CMC NaOH 25%-PVA (2:2:1), sago CMS-CMC NaOH 25%-PVA (2:2:1), tapioca CMS-CMC NaOH 25%-PVA (8:1:1) hydrogel). CMC addition successfully improved PVA-hydrogel crosslinks structures throughout CMS-PVA hydrogel networks, however excess CMS disrupted PVA crystallites after its miscibility. Sago CMS-PVA hydrogel (9:1) denoted the highest swelling capability, while tapioca CMS-CMC NaOH 25%-PVA hydrogel (8:1:1) presented the highest water absorption capacity. Otherwise, the best oil absorption capability was indicated by sago CMS-CMC NaOH 25%-PVA hydrogel (2:2:1).
Keyword: carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), carboxymethyl starch (CMS), hydrogel, oil palm empty–fruit–bunch (OPEFB), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)

Judul: Modification of cassava waste pulp to hydrophilic products by oxidation-grafting
Abstrak: Cassava waste pulp (CWP) from tapioca industrial byproducts present in large numbers. Native starch in CWP has the high potential to raw material, but it possess some undesirable properties limiting its use in industrial applications. These limitations make the research on native starch increased through modification by physically, chemically or enzymatically and resulting in products with a higher added value. The purpose of this study to obtain optimum oxidation conditions of oxidized cassava waste pulp (OCWP) through determining the factors that significantly affect the oxidation process and synthesize hydrogel base OCWP with a character of saline-tolerant. The hydrogels from this study is expected to be a superabsorbent and into the future promising product for agriculture and personal care industries. Potential factors that must be considered in the oxidation process of CWP are temperature, pH, oxidation time, the amount of oxidant and catalyst. The experimental results of the response surface methodology showed the factors that have an important influence on the optimum conditions of oxidation are 78.335 °C temperature, 4.301 ml catalyst and oxidation time of 83.613 minutes. The OCWP was used as the main framework of grafting. Oxidation of CWP produce carbonyl (C=O) and carboxyl (-COO) group which will make it more hydrophilic. Furthermore, the OCWP grafting with acrylic acid (AA) and acrylamide (AM) monomer was optimized for the production of hydrogels. The characterization of oxidation product and hydrogels through the analysis of the IR spectrum and SEM photos. The state of absorbing water (swelling) is the primary parameter of a hydrogel as a candidate of absorbent material. The average of water absorption the OCWP hydrogels is two times higher than the CWP hydrogels. However, both of hydrogel types which are synthesized to be a superabsorbent because it can absorb water up to more than 100 times the dry weight. The Hydrogel swelling capacity in salt solution is significantly reduced compared to swelling in distilled water. However, the effect of NaCl concentration on water absorption capacity for the OCWP-AA and CWP-AM hydrogel has been constantly respectively above of 0.173 M and 0.296 M compared with CWP-AA hydrogel absorption was continuously decreased above of 0.34 M NaCl concentrations. The absorption average difference in the NaCl solution showed the OCWP-AA and OCWP-AM hydrogel has swelling respectively 26 and 12.5 times greater than the CWP-AA hydrogel. Thus, the hydrogel of CWP after oxidation tolerant of saline solution compared with the hydrogel of CWP before oxidation.
Keyword: cassava waste pulp, grafting, hydrogels, oxidation, saline-tolerant

Judul: Psittacosis Sebagai Zoonosis Penting Yang Berasal Dari Burung
Abstrak: Psittacosis atau ornithosis adalah penyakit menular dari burung kepada manusia. Agens penyebab psittacosis termasuk ke dalam virus psittacosis-lymphogranuloma venereum group yang disebut Chlamydia psittaci. C. psittaci hanya dapat berkembang biak di dalam jaringan hidup tetapi peka terhadap antibiotik. Penyebaran penyakit ini sangat luas, terdapat hampir di seluruh dunia. Di Indonesia penyakit ini belum pernah di diagnosa, tetapi mengingat terdapat demikian banyaknya jenis burung maka diperkirakan psittacosis ini sudah ada. Kasus pada manusia pertamakali ditemukan oleh Ritter pada tahun 1879, di Eropa. Waktu itu dikenal sebagai pneumotyphus. Chlamydia psittaci tidak hanya sebagai penyebab infeksi pada burung, juga bisa menyebabkan infeksi pada mamalia diantaranya sapi, kerbau, kambing, domba, babi dan kucing. Pada kucing dikenal sebagai feline pneumonitis. Pada domba atau kambing mengakibatkan enzootic abortion. Pada burung, kalkun merupakan unggas paling rentan diikuti oleh burung psittacine dan burung lain di luar famili psittacidae. Virulensinyapun berbeda-beda. Yang berasal dari kalkun bervirulensi tinggi, sedangkan yang berasal dari burung merpati bisa bervirulensi tinggi bisa juga bervirulensi rendah. Penularan terjadi melalui kontak langsung maupun ti- dak langsung. Penularan melalui telur tidak terjadi. Umumnya penyakit ini memperlihatkan gejala klinis berupa deman, lesu, lemah, anorexia, kurus, diarrhea ber- warna kekuningan, discharge dari mata dan hidung, conjunc- tivitis. Gejala khas pada kalkun adalah istirahat dengan sternum sebagai dasarnya, karena adanya tekanan dari bagian perut yang sakit. Sedangkan pada manusia memperlihatkan adanya demam, kadang-kadang merasa dingin, lesu, sakit kepala yang hebat, sakit pada bagian belakang badan dan photophobia…dst
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