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The characteristics of activated zeolite were evaluated using Fourier Transform InfraRed (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Detector Dispersive (SEM-EDS) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). Zeolite was activated by hydrolysis method using 2 M HCl solution. Zeolite is a mineral contain an alumina silicate with porous structure. The existing pores will be maximized by applying the activation process. The purpose of this study is to obtain a comparison of the characteristics of zeolite with and without activation. Functional group characteristics obtained from FTIR have shown the intensity of some groups decreases due to the impurities of the missing metals. The morphological characteristics using SEM-EDS showed the surface morphological differences between silica without and with activation, where the surface of the silica activated showed a clearer pores. Furthermore, characterization using XRD has shown an increase in the degree of crystallinity of zeolite.

The value of rattan biomass as bio waste can be improved by utilizing and recycling these bio waste for the production of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC). To achieve this aim, these research prepared nanocrystalline cellulose from rattan biomass by using sulfuric acid hydrolysis. The samples were designated as follows: NCC50 from a 50% acid concentration, NCC55 from a 55% acid concentration, NCC60 from a 60% acid concentration and NCC65 from a 65% acid concentration of sulfuric acid. The results indicated that the yield of the nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) was 43% under the optimum conditions of 60% of sulfuric acid concentration. The functional groups and crystallinity index of nanocrystalline celluloses (NCCs) were showed by fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer and X-ray diffraction (XRD). FTIR shows that nanocrystalline celluloses (NCCs) have the typical chemical structure of cellulose. X-ray diffraction indicates that crystallinity index was increased by sulfuric acid addition until 60% sulfuric acid addition with the amount of 87.94%.

Biocomposite containing cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) from rattan biomass as fillers and citric acid as co-plasticizer. Rattan biomass is a fiber waste from processing industry of rattan which contains 37.6% cellulose. Isolation of alpha cellulose from rattan biomass was prepared by using three stages: delignification, alkalization, and bleaching. It was delignificated with 3.5% HNO3 and NaNO2, precipitated with 17.5% NaOH, bleaching process with 10% H2O2. The preparation of CNC includes acid hydrolysis using 45% H2SO4 and followed by mechanical processes of ultrasonication, centrifugation, and filtration with a dialysis membrane. Biocomposite was prepared using a solution casting method, which includes 1–4 wt % CNC as fillers, 10-40 wt% citric acid as co-plasticizer and 30 wt% glycerol as plasticizer. The results of TGA, SEM and XRD characteristic of CNC show that CNC has low residue mass, rod like and network like shape with crystallinity index 84.46%. Biocomposite characteristic consists of SEM, tensile strength and elongation at break. The resultshows that biocomposites by addition of CNC and citric acid have a smooth surface and homogeneous distribution of fillers. The tensile strength of biocomposites was increased by addition CNC and citric acid. The addition of CNC decreases the elongation at break but by addition of citric acid, the elongation at break was increased.