The influence of hydrolisis time on the crystallinity degree of cellulose and α – cellulose of oil palm wood (Elais guinensis Jack)

The research to observe the influence of hydrolysis time towards the degree of crystallinity owned by oil palm wood (Elais guinensis Jack) based cellulose and α–cellulose had been conducted. Cellulose was extracted from oil palm wood by means of alkali treatment as the first stage then it was bleached with NaOCl 5%~, 10 drops of CH₃COOH glacial, and heated 70°C while stirred for an hour. The residue was added with HNO₃ 0,05N at 70°C while stirred for an hour to produced cellulose. After dissolved into NaOH 17,5%, cellulose will yield a-cellulose and then it was hydrolized by HCl 2N for 20, 40, and 60 minutes. Functional group analysis using FT-IR showed the functional group of O-H, C-H, and C-O-C in the molecules of cellulose and α–cellulose. Degree of crystallinity from cellulose and α–cellulose were analyzed using x-ray diffraction. The highest degree of crystallinity of cellulose and α – cellulose are 79,538 % and 80,036 % respectively for 40 minutes hydrolysis time.