Abstract
Kapok fiber is a natural material that has unique properties, can be renewed with a large lumen, it has hydrophobic properties, as an absorbent in oil, heavy metals, and sound. To increase the absorption capacity of heavy metals, physical properties, and chemical resistance, modifications were made to change the fiber properties from hydrophobic to hydrophilic. One way is through the process of soaking the kapok fibers in a solvent to remove non-cellulose compounds. In this study, to improve the properties of kapok fiber, soaking has been done with various solutions, there are HCl, NaOH, NaClO, NaClO-NaOH-NaClO, and NaClO2-NaOH-NaClO2 solution. Immersion of kapok fibers in NaClO2-NaOH-NaClO2 solution can increase cellulose content up to 93.69% with porosity content of 4.75%. NaClO2-NaOH-NaClO2-treated can absorb water up to 211.27%, the second highest after treatment with the NaClO-NaOH-NaClO-treated solution of 285.29%. Immersion in NaClO-NaOH-NaClO and NaClO2-NaOH-NaClO2 solvents also causes damage to the kapok fiber protective layer which indicates the loss of lignin, so that a significant change of the hydrophobic fiber becomes hydrophilic as seen in the SEM results.
Highlights
The kapok tree (Ceiba Pentandra L.) is one type of tropical tree that grows in Indonesia, one of which is in the province of Gorontalo
Kapok fiber was modified through a process of soaking in various solvents, included HCl, NaOH, NaClO, NaClO-NaOH-NaClO, and NaClO2-NaOH-NaClO2 solution
Immersion in HCl (1 M) solution did not show significant changes. This is proven by the results of HCl-treated kapok fiber Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR) which is similar to untreated kapok
Summary
The kapok tree (Ceiba Pentandra L.) is one type of tropical tree that grows in Indonesia, one of which is in the province of Gorontalo. Kapok fiber can be used as an adsorbent material for heavy metals, oil, and sound. Alkali treatment is able to change the hydrophobic nature of kapok fiber into new fibers which are hydrophilic and have the potential as natural sorbent oil because of their high adsorption rate, stable structure and high reusability [4]. Based on the results of his research stated that kapok-DTPA fiber has better adsorbent capacity compared to the results of studies that have been reported using natural fibers. Based on the background above, the researcher has the idea of doing physical testing and chemical resistance of kapok fiber both before and after soaking in order to obtain data on kapok content and obtain physical properties data, analyze changes in properties from hydrophobic to hydrophilic and increase hydrophilic properties, analyze types solvent to increase absorbency of kapok fiber to water absorption. Researchers believe the use of a combination of solvents can change the hydrophobic nature to become hydrophilic for the better
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