Judul: Sintesis Superabsorben melalui Kopolimerisasi Pencangkokan Asam Akrilat pada Onggok Dialdehida
Abstrak: Cassava waste pulp (onggok) is a residual pulp obtained from starch industry. The purpose of this study is to modify the pulp through oxidation with NaIO4 followed by grafting and crosslinking copolymerization to obtain superabsorbent polymer (SAP). The carbonyl content measurement was utilized to determine the optimum condition for oxidation. Oxidation with 0.05 M NaIO4 for 1 hour and subsequent acetone washing solution gave the best result. Grafting and crosslinking of acrylic acid on the pulp backbone were performed with N,N’- methylene-bis-acrylamide as crosslinker and ammonium peroxidisulfate as the initiator. The synthesis was carried out at 70–75 ºC for 3 hours, then the water absorptive capacity of the copolymer products were determined. Water absorptive capacity of SAP was 893.22 g/g in 24 hours. The maximum absorptive capacity of SAP in solutions with pH ranging from 2 to 11 was 915.26 g/g at pH 9, whereas the maximum absorptive capacity in salt solutions were obtained at 0.01 M NaCl, namely 137.42 g/g.
Keyword: absorptive capacity, acrylic acid, cassava, oxidation, superabsorbent

Judul: Sintesis Superabsorben melalui Kopolimerisasi Pencangkokan Akrilamida pada Onggok Dialdehida
Abstrak: Cassava waste pulp (onggok) from the tapioca industry is abundant in Indonesia. Cassava waste pulp still has relatively high carbohydrate content, mainly starch and glucose, which is potencial to be utilized as superabsorbent raw material. The goal of this work was to synthesize superabsorbent material from cassava waste pulp through oxidation followed by graft copolymerization. The oxidation was carried out with sodium periodate (NaIO4) to break the C2-C3 bond in the glucose ring. Various concentration of NaIO4 solution (0.01, 0.05, and 0.10 M), oxidation time (15 and 60 min), and washing solutions (distilled water, methanol, and acetone) were used to obtain the optimum aldehyde group amount (the optimum C2-C3 bond cleavage) and the best products resistance against microbes. Optimum oxidation were by conditions using 0.05 M NaIO4 in 1 hour and washed with acetone. Graft copolymerization process was performed by using acrylamide, methylene-bis-acrylamide, and ammonium persulfate. The copolymerization products were then saponified to increase the water absorption capacity. The test result showed that the superabsorbent could swell up to 400 times of their original weight in distilled water. However, the capacities were decreased in salt solution as well as in acid and basic solutions.
Keyword: acrylamide, copolymerization, onggok, oxidation, superabsorbent

Judul: Prevalence of Bird Lice on Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) in 99Wonderland Park, Selangor, Malaysia
Abstrak: Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) have coexisted with humans for thousands of years and are used for various purposes such as food and in sports. Rock pigeons may have the potential to be infested with a wide range of ectoparasites, which can have a significant impact on their life cycle. This study aims to measure the prevalence of Columba livia with bird lice in 99Wonderland Park, Selangor, Malaysia in the year 2020 and to ascertain the impact of bird lice on the health of these infested birds. Data were collected from clinical records for the month of January to December in the year 2020 from 99Wonderland Park, Selangor, Malaysia. Lice were identified in 42 of the 80 Rock pigeons examined so, the overall prevalence of lice infestations was 52.5%. The prevalence of ectoparasites was found to be higher in young Rock pigeons (60.4%) as compared to adult Rock pigeons (37.4%). Columbicola columbae (wing lice) and Colpocephalum turbinatum (body lice) are two species of lice that have been detected. Body lice were more prevalent in young Columba livia birds at 47.6% whereas wing lice were more prevalent in adult Columba livia birds at 16.7%. Most of the lice were found in the thorax and abdomen area followed by the head and neck area., Merpati Batu (Columba livia) telah hidup berdampingan dengan manusia selama ribuan tahun dan digunakan untuk berbagai keperluan seperti makanan dan olahraga. Merpati batu dapat terinfestasi dengan berbagai ektoparasit, yang dapat berdampak signifikan pada siklus hidup mereka. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui prevalensi Columba livia dengan kutu burung di 99 Wonderland Park, Selangor, Malaysia pada tahun 2020 dan untuk memastikan dampaknya terhadap kesehatan burung yang terinfestasi. Data dikumpulkan dari catatan klinis dari bulan Januari hingga Desember tahun 2020 dari 99Wonderland Park, Selangor, Malaysia. Kutu diidentifikasi pada 42 dari 80 merpati batu yang diperiksa sehingga, prevalensi keseluruhan infestasi kutu adalah 52,5%. Prevalensi ektoparasit ditemukan lebih tinggi pada merpati batu muda (60,4%) dibandingkan dengan merpati batu dewasa (37,4%). Columbicola columbae (kutu sayap) dan Colpocephalum turbinatum (kutu badan) adalah dua spesies kutu yang telah ditemukan. Kutu badan lebih banyak ditemukan pada burung Columba livia muda sebesar 47,6% sedangkan kutu sayap lebih banyak ditemukan pada burung Columba livia dewasa sebesar 16,7%. Sebagian besar kutu ditemukan di daerah dada dan abdomen diikuti daerah kepala dan leher.
Keyword: Columba livia, prevalence, ectoparasite, wing lice, body lice, Columba livia, prevalensi, ektoparasit, kutu sayap, kutu badan