Pembuatan dan Karakterisasi Superabsorben Polimer Berbasis Natrium Karboksimetil Selulosa dan Hidroksietil Metil Selulosa dengan Asam Ftalat Sebagai Agen Pengikat Silang

Abstract

This study examines the process of making and characterizing superabsorbent polymer (SAP) based on Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose (Na-CMC) and Hydroxyethyl Methyl Cellulose (HEMC). The manufacture of superabsorbent polymer was carried out by mixing Na-CMC and HEMC with a mass ratio of 3: 1 in 2% of the mixture mass. Then in the next stage, Phthalic Acid was added as a cross-linking agent with variations in cross-linking concentration of 0%; 1%; 3%; 5% and 7%. The results of the mixture were in the form of a film that would be characterized by cross-linking degree tests, water absorption, FTIR, DSC and TGA. The results of a good cross-linking percentage were shown in the variation of the phthalic acid cross-linking agent concentration of 3%, which was 42.35%. The results of water absorption showed an optimum value with a variation of the phthalic acid cross-linking concentration of 3%, which was able to absorb 3342% or could absorb 33.42 g/g of its dry weight. The FTIR test results show the formation of a polymer superabsorbent supported by the FTIR spectrum in the mixture of Na-CMC, HEMC and Phthalic Acid as a cross-linking agent with the presence of -OH groups at a wavelength of 3496.2 cm-1 and -COO groups at a wavelength of 1453.6 cm-1 and a new absorption peak is at a wave number of 1625.1 cm-1 which is the presence of an ester group which indicates that cross-linking has occurred in the SAP polymer. The thermogam results in thermal analysis using DSC produce a glass transition temperature (Tg) value between 129.71. The TGA test was carried out to test thermal stability, the results of SAP Optimum 3% has better thermal stability compared to Na-CMC.