The effect of acid variation on physical and chemical characteristics of cellulose isolated from Saccharum officinarum L. Bagasse

Saccharum officinarum L. bagasse is waste from sugarcane plants contains lignin, hemicellulose, cellulose and wax compounds. Isolation of cellulose from sugarcane can be done by acid hydrolysis of sugarcane waste and delignification with Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH). The objectives of this research were to study the effect of acid type and concentration on the physical and chemical characteristics of cellulose isolated from sugarcane bagasse. The acid variation that used were nitric acid: sulphuric acid; nitric acid; hydrochloric acid and sulphuric acid: hydrochloric acid in 1:1; 2:1 and 3:1 in the variation of concentration for each combination. Cellulose characteristics observed were color, shape and powder properties such as Hausner Ratio, Carr's index, Angle of Repose and functional group analysis of cellulose using FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared). The cellulose that isolated from sugarcane bagasse with HNO₃: H₂SO and HNO₃: HCl were matched in white powder form with standard cellulose. Cellulose color that obtained with other acids were cream in fiber form. The results showed that the hydrolysis process of cellulose with nitric acid was more effective than sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid. Standard cellulose FTIR spectra showed that delignification process was success and cellulose obtained from sugarcane bagasse. Sugarcane bagasse cellulose samples that isolated with nitric acid: hydrochloric acid (2:1) was the largest in percentage of cellulose (44.143%) and showed in line peaks with standard cellulose. Bulk Densities, Tapped Densities, Hausner Ratio, Carr's index and Angle of Repose values of sugarcane bagasse cellulose isolated in sequence were 0.05; 0.07; excellent; 26.6; good.