PENINGKATAN KUALITAS SERAT DAUN PELEPAH KELAPA MELALUI PERLAKUAN ALKALI
Abstract: Research is
done to analyze
treatment (physical and
chemical) in increasing
quality of coconut
leaves fiber. Plot of
coconut leaves fiber
research is done
with determining characteristic of
physically coconut leaves, method of making single fiber,
treatment technical and testing of strength. Determining of physically coconut
leaves characteristic is done by observing and measuring dimension directly and testing water content. Then making of single fiber is
done by selecting of coconut leaves, washing, drying and brushing/shaving.
Treatment of physically coconut
leaves is begun
from coconut leaves
in sheet shape
to single fiber
shape. Kind of
physically treatment consists of
washing, soaking, natural drying and supervised drying. Washing and soaking use
water. Natural drying of coconut leaves
is done when
coconut leaves is
sheet. Supervised drying
is done with
hot air in ±45oC of temperature. Generation of hot air is done
with heat transfer from hot water ±60oC of temperature to air in
drying pan. The next,
washing, soaking and
supervised drying is
done to prepare
coconut leaves that
will be used
to chemical treatment. Chemical treatment is done with methode alkali. Alkali treatment to
single coconut leaves fiber is done with using NaOH solution. The alkali
solution is arranged with concentration variation 5%, 10% and 15%. Alkali
treatment uses water as solvent. Testing of single coconut leaves fiber is done
to refer JIS number R7601 for single
fiber. Observing and
measuring shows that
coconut leave stem
has ±230 of
coconut leaves. Measuring dimension shows that coconut leaves
width have ±1 cm in coconut leaves tip, ±4 cm in coconut leaves center and ±2 cm in coconut leaves stem tip. Water
content of coconut leaves can reach ± 50%. Method of making single fiber show
that brushing or shaving will be effective when coconut leave is rather dry.
Then testing of tensile shows that alkali treatment is trend to increase
strength and elongation. The increasing of coconut leaves quality (strength and
elongation) will be optimum in concentration 10% of NaOH.
Penulis: Seno Darmanto, Yusuf
Umardani, Heny Kusumayanti
Kode Jurnal: jptmesindd090101
