Utilization of Imperata cylindrica as an alternative low-cost cellulose sources for carboxymethyl cellulose production

Various non-wood plants were evaluated as alternative raw materials in cellulose production. Imperata cylindrica is a perennial grass which distributed mainly in South Kalimantan, Indonesia. This grass is a noxious weed both in crops and natural areas, causing severe economic and environmental damage. In this work, Imperata cylindrica was used as raw material to produce cellulose. Cellulose was extracted from Imperata cylindrica through the removal of lignin and hemicellulose. The purpose of this study was to synthesize carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) obtained through alkalization using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and carboxymethylation reaction using monochloroacetic acid (MCA). Na-CMC is cellulose-derived material which widely uses in many industrial application, such as pharmaceutical excipients, thickener, binder, and emulsifying agent. The carboxymethylation process of cellulose was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and further characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), degree of substitution value, and levels of solubility. Based on the comparison of FTIR spectra, X-ray diffraction, solubility, and degree of substitution, the optimum condition for Na-CMC synthesis was found to be 15% NaOH and the ratio of MCA to cellulose 0.80. In conclusion of the characteristic study, Imperata cylindrica is an excellent potential alternative cellulose in the pharmaceutical industries.