Surface Modification of Cellulose from Sugarcane Bagasse Using Soybean Oil to Increase the Hydrophobicity

Abstract

Cellulose fibers from sugarcane bagasse were bleached and modified by soybean oil in order to increase the hydrophobicity. The modified cellulose prepared by mising cellulose fibers with soybean oil in various quantity and ethanol as a solvent. the process was mixed using ultrasonic for 3 minutes and than was dried using oven at 110 oC for 60 minutes. Identification of the infrared spectrum confirmed that cellulose modified by 0,35 g and 0,5 g soybean oil generates signals carbonyl functional group at wavenumber 1750 cm-1. The XRD patterns indicated that degree of crystalinity from modified cellulose did not change significantly. In addition, the wettability test showed that the modified cellulose hard to dispersed in water solvent.