| dc.description.abstract | Research has been conducted on the production and characterization of
biodegradable plastics based on cellulose nanoscale fibers derived from empty palm
fruit bunches (TKKS) with the addition of chitosan and glycerol as plasticizers. The
purpose of this study was to determine the potential use of TKKS as a source of
cellulose nanoscale fiber raw material and to analyze the physical, mechanical, and
chemical characteristics of the resulting biodegradable plastics. The manufacturing
process was carried out using the solvent casting method with a composition ratio of
5 grams of cellulose nanoscale fibers and chitosan. The biodegradable plastic
underwent a series of tests, including thickness, density, water absorption, tensile
strength, elongation at break, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Fourier
Transform Infrared (FTIR), and biodegradation tests. The study produced cellulose
nanofibers measuring 0.03581 μm with a minimum tensile strength of 0.5355 MPa in
samples using 100% glycerol plasticizer and a maximum tensile strength of 2.2149
MPa in samples using 80% glycerol plasticizer with the highest elongation value of
35.59%. The water absorption values obtained ranged from 79.79% to 193.29%, with
the highest biodegradation reaching 95.03% in samples using 80% glycerol for 17
days and an average mass decrease of 57.39% per three days. The FTIR analysis
results show the presence of –OH, –NH₂, C–H, C=O, C–O–C, and C–O functional
groups originating from the components of biodegradable plastic, namely cellulose
nanoscale, chitosan, and glycerol. The presence of these groups indicates that the
structure of the resulting biodegradable plastic is stable. | en_US |
