Pengaruh Berat Molekul dan Konsentrasi Larutan Kitosan Sebagai Bahan Campuran Untuk Meningkatkan Kekuatan Kertas dari Pulp Tandan Kelapa Sawit

Abstract

Chitosan from prawn shells with deacetylation degree 84.27 %, which was measured by infra red spectroscopy, was used as additive for papermaking from oil palm empty bunch pulp. The viscosity of chitosan was determined after leaved it for 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 days and the molecular weight was measured by Mark-Howink equation. Chitosan with various molecular weights and concentrations in 1 % acetic acid solution were used as additive. Paper with and without chitosan were characterized by tensile strength, elongation, impact testing, as well as Scanning electron microscope (SEM), and Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA). Chitosan with molecular weight 14.269, on the first day, and concentration 0,4 % show increased on mechanical strength than the paper without chitosan.