PENGARUH PENAMBAHAN BERBAGAI MODIFIKASI SERAT TANDAN KOSONG SAWIT PADA SIFAT FUNGSIONAL BIODEGRADABLE FOAM
Authors: Etikaningrum Nfn. , Hermanianto Joko , Iriani Evi Savitri , Syarief Rizal , Permana Asep Wawan 
Published: February 2018

<p>Pengembangan <em>biofoam</em> sebagai alternatif pengganti styrofoam telah banyak dilakukan. Bahan utama dalam pembuatan <em>biofoam</em> adalah pati murni, namun biofoam yang dihasilkan masih bersifat rapuh dan mudah menyerap air. Oleh karena itu adonan <em>biofoam</em> perlu ditambahkan bahan lain diantaranya <em>plasticizer</em>, pati modifikasi, polimer sintetis dan serat. Salah satu serat alam yang cukup potensial yaitu tandan kosong sawit (TKS). Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui pengaruh pembuatan <em>biofoam</em> dari serat yang dimodifikasi dengan beberapa metode yang berbeda serta dengan konsentrasi yang berbeda sehingga dapat menghasilkan <em>biofoam</em> dengan karakteristik terbaik. Proses pembuatan biofoam dilakukan menggunakan teknik <em>thermopressing</em> dengan mencampurkan tapioka, <em>Polivinil alcohol</em> (PVA) dan dan jenis modifikasi STKS (selulosa tandan kosong sawit), NSTKS (nanoselulosa tandan kosong sawit) dan SATKS (selulosa asetat tandan kosong sawit) dengan konsentrasi serat (1%, 3% dan 5%). Karakterisasi <em>biofoam</em> meliputi daya serap air, kuat tekan, densitas, kristalinitas, titik leleh (Tm) dan morfologi. Jenis modifikasi NSTKS dan SATKS pada konsentrasi tinggi menghasilkan nilai daya serap air tinggi, kuat tekan rendah dan densitas rendah. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa STKS 5% dapat menurunkan daya serap air, meningkatkan densitas dan kuat tekan.</p><p align="center"><strong>English Version Abstract</strong></p><p align="center"><strong><strong>Effect of Addition Various Modification Empty Fruit Bunches Fiber on Functional Properties of Biodegradable Foam</strong></strong></p><p>Biodegradable foam as alternative to styrofoam has been developed with pure starch as the main ingredient, but biofoam produced is still fragile and easyly absorbs water. Therefore, other materials such as plasticizer, modified starch, synthetic polymers and fiber need to be added into dough formulation. One of the natural fibers of considerable potential is oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB). The purpose of this study was determine the effect of incorporation of different concentration of fibers modified with several different methods on the biofoam characteristics. Biofoam was prepared by mixing tapioca, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and various modification of EFB, namely STKS (empty fruit bunches cellulose), NSTKS (empty fruit bunches nanocellulose) and SATKS (empty fruit bunches cellulose acetate) by thermopressing technique. Each type of cellulose was added in three different concentrartion (1%, 3%, and 5%). Biofoam characterization included water absorbtion capacity, compressive strength, density, crystalinity, melting point (Tm) and morphology. Biofoam made from NSTKS and SATKS with high concentration have high water absorb capacity, low compressive strenght and density. The results showed that the addition of STKS at a concentration of 5% decreased water absorbtion capacity and, increased density and compressive strength.</p>