Karakterisasi Biofilm Menyerupai Kulit dari Selulosa Bakteri Nata De Coco dengan Modifikasi Ex-Situ (Perendaman Gliserol) dan Variasi Metode Pengeringan

Abstract

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a biomaterial from bacterial fermentation that contain high purity of cellulose, but 90% of BC pellicles retained water from the fermentation process. In this study, BC was modified with glycerol immersion in different concentrations (0%;2,5%;5%;7,5%;10%). For wide application, water content on BC must be removed by drying. Glycerol is added as a plasticizer. Variations in drying conditions were carried out using an oven (80 °C and 120 °C) for 60 and 90 minutes and microwave drying (180 and 200 watts) for 15 minutes and 30 minutes. A series of physical and mechanical property changes of the SB biofilm were analyzed, including tensile strength, elasticity, and water absorption ratio. BC biofilm bonds were identified using FTIR, SEM-EDX and TGA. The results showed that the glycerol was able to influence the elasticity of the biofilm. The results showed that glycerol concentration was able to increase biofilm elasticity from 3.46% to 27.743%. However, glycerol immersion above 7.5% caused a decrease in the tensile strength of the BC biofilm. Various drying conditions also affect its properties. Oven drying produces better characteristics compared to microwave drying. The highest tensile strength produced by immersion in 7.5% glycerol and drying in an oven at 120 °C for 60 minutes was 7.161 MPa and the elasticity of the BC biofilm met the characteristics of animal (crocodile) skin in all variations of glycerol immersion with oven drying for 60 minutes at a temperature of 120 °C and 80 °C. The results of FTIR and EDX analysis confirmed that there were differences in the contents of the modified BC.