Produksi kertas selulosa mikroba nata de coco dan analisis biokonversinya

Abstract

The use of wood for pulp, paper, and other cellulose-based products reveals several weaknesses. The favorable alternatives is microbial cellulose synthesized by Acetobacter. The addition of kaolin of 5.0 %, tapioca 2.5 %, and combination of kaolin (5 %) and tapioca (2.5 %) on physical characteristics of microbial cellulose are studied. Control prepared by using no addition of the both additives. This experiment proceeded in stages of microbial cellulose synthesis, pulping, paper sheet forming, and physical test. Prior sheet forming, additives added to the microbial cellulose pulp, and alum of 2 % added as retention aid. The yield of microbial cellulose pulp was 38.125 % in average (dry basis). Physical-test results on the corresponding paper revealed in the real basis weight (31.2-49.5 g m-2), tensile index (19.84-53.98 Nm g-1), tear index (14.27-21.41 mN m-2 g-1) and water absorption (52.11-71.97 g m-2 for the upper side, and 55.08-85.48 g m-2 for the lower side). The treatment considered the most optimum to afford satisfactory basis weight and tensile index was combination of tapioca starch and kaolin. The additive that affected the physical strength properties of paper was tapioca starch, while kaolin conversely improved the appearance of paper surface. The microbial cellulose production on 100 ha area can substitute 1,973,116 trees per year of Acacia mangium, which is equivalent to conserve 1,183.63 ha of forest area annually (carbon sequestration equal to 276,236.24 tons of CO2).