Study Of Physical And Thermal Characteristics Nitrocellulose Derived From Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches With Time Variations In The Nitration Process

Yasar, Rafi Thoriq (2025) Study Of Physical And Thermal Characteristics Nitrocellulose Derived From Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches With Time Variations In The Nitration Process. Other thesis, INSTITUT TEKNOLOGI SEPULUH NOPEMBER.

Text 5011211147-Undergraduate_Thesis.pdf - Accepted Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (20MB) | Request a copy

Abstract

Indonesia merupakan salah satu produsen minyak sawit terbesar di dunia, yang menghasilkan limbah biomassa dalam jumlah besar, termasuk tandan kosong kelapa sawit (TKKS). TKKS mengandung selulosa dalam jumlah tinggi yang berpotensi untuk dikembangkan menjadi mikroselulosa yang kemudian dapat diolah menjadi nitroselulosa sebagai bahan baku propelan alternatif yang lebih berkelanjutan. Rasio asam terhadap selulosa yang digunakan adalah 1:47 dengan waktu reaksi masing-masing 30, 45, dan 60 menit. Karakterisasi dilakukan melalui berbagai metode pengujian. Morfologi sampel diamati menggunakan Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), sedangkan gugus fungsi dianalisis menggunakan Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Kristalinitas diuji menggunakan X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), sedangkan sifat termal dianalisis melalui Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) dan Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa analisis FTIR mengonfirmasi pembentukan gugus nitrat (-NO2) melalui kemunculan pita serapan baru pada 1644, 1452, dan 1376 cm¹, serta gugus ester nitrat (С-ОN) pada 1276 dan 1198 cm¹, dengan intensitas yang meningkat seiring bertambahnya waktu nitrasi. Analisis XRD menunjukkan penurunan kristalinitas, yang mengindikasikan terganggunya struktur selulosa akibat substitusi gugus nitrat. Pengamatan SEM menunjukkan perubahan morfologi dengan meningkatnya ketidakrataan permukaan dan porositas dari mikroselulosa menjadi nitroselulosa. Analisis unsur EDX mendukung temuan ini, menunjukkan peningkatan kandungan nitrogen dari 12,04% (30 menit) menjadi 12,56% (60 menit), dengan peningkatan derajat substitusi (DS) yang sesuai dari 2,28 menjadi 2,44. Analisis TGA dan DSC menunjukkan bahwa stabilitas termal nitroselulosa meningkat seiring dengan waktu nitrasi yang lebih lama, dengan sampel 60 menit menunjukkan rentang suhu dekomposisi tertinggi (170-260°C). Pengujian pembakaran juga menunjukkan bahwa sampel nitroselulosa 60 menit memiliki laju pembakaran tertinggi, yaitu 0,123 g/s, yang menunjukkan kinerja yang lebih baik sebagai bahan propelan. Hasil ini menunjukkan bahwa waktu nitrasi yang lebih lama meningkatkan substitusi nitrat, stabilitas termal, dan kinerja pembakaran, menjadikan nitroselulosa turunan TKKS sebagai alternatif berkelanjutan yang menjanjikan untuk aplikasi energi.
====================================================================================================================================
Indonesia is one of the largest palm oil producers in the world, which produces large amounts of biomass waste, including oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB). OPEFB contains high amounts of cellulose that has the potential to be developed into microcellulose which can then be processed into nitrocellulose as a more sustainable alternative propellant raw material. The ratio of acid to cellulose used was 1:47 with reaction times of 30, 45, and 60 minutes, respectively.Characterization was carried out through various testing methods. The morphology of thesamples was observed using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), while the functional groups were analyzed using Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Crystallinity was tested using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), while thermal properties were analyzed through Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). The results showed that FTIR analysis confirmed the formation of nitrate groups (–NO₂) through the appearance of new absorption bands at 1644, 1452, and 1376 cm⁻¹, and nitrate ester groups (C–O–N) at 1276 and 1198 cm⁻¹, with increasing intensity as nitration time increased. XRD analysis revealed a decrease in crystallinity, indicating disruption of the cellulose structure due to the substitution of nitrate groups. SEM observations demonstrated morphological changes with increasing surface irregularities and porosity from microcellulose to nitrocellulose. EDX elemental analysis supported these findings, showing a rise in nitrogen content from 12.04% (30 minutes) to 12.56% (60 minutes), with a corresponding increase in the degree of substitution (DS) from 2.28 to 2.44. TGA and DSC analysis showed that the thermal stability of nitrocellulose improved with longer nitration time, with the 60-minute sample exhibiting the highest decomposition temperature range (170–260°C). Combustion testing also revealed that the 60-minute nitrocellulose sample had the highest burning rate of 0.123 g/s, suggesting better performance as a propellant material. These results demonstrate that longer nitration time enhances nitrate substitution, thermal stability, and combustion performance, making OPEFB-derived nitrocellulose a promising sustainable alternative for energetic applications.

Item Type:	Thesis (Other)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches, Microcellulose, Nitrocellulose, Alkali Treatment, Nitration
Subjects:	T Technology > TP Chemical technology T Technology > TP Chemical technology > TP155.7 Chemical processes.
Divisions:	Faculty of Industrial Technology > Material & Metallurgical Engineering > 28201-(S1) Undergraduate Thesis
Depositing User:	Rafi Thoriq Yasar
Date Deposited:	01 Aug 2025 02:38
Last Modified:	01 Aug 2025 02:38
URI:	http://repository.its.ac.id/id/eprint/125357

Actions (login required)

View Item