Etnobotani Purun Danau (Lepironia articulata) oleh Masyarakat Suku Banjar di Desa Lubuk Kertang Serta Analisis Serat Proses Pulping Purun

Abstract

Purun danau (L. articulata) is a swamp plant that is widely used by the people of Lubuk Kertang Village, especially by the Banjar tribe, as raw material for woven crafts. The processing of purun is not only economically valuable, but also part of the local community's traditional knowledge. This study aims to examine the ethnobotany and utilization of purun danau (L. articulata) by the people of Lubuk Kertang Village and to analyze the characteristics of purun fiber and fiber derivatives through the pulping process as an alternative raw material for paper production. The research method for the ethnobotany aspect was to collect information from the local community through interviews, and for the pulping process, the method used was a chemical process using a 20% NaOH solution at a temperature of 100°C for 1.5–2 hours. The pulping results were then analyzed to determine the yield, kappa number, and physical characteristics of the fibers, such as length, diameter, and cell wall thickness. The ethnobotanical product used was the stem, which was used as raw material for handicrafts such as mats, bags, wallets, and tissue boxes. The pulp yield reached 97.76%, indicating good efficiency in separating lignocellulose components, and the kappa number showed low lignin content with a value of 6. Microscopic analysis shows that purun fibers have fiber dimensions and fiber dimension derivatives that meet the standards for pulp and paper industry raw materials. Purun danau fibers are classified as class II, which is the medium quality category. This study shows that purun danauis not only valuable ethnobotanically, but also has potential as a raw material for the pulp and paper industry.