Some Physical and Mechanical Properties of Candlenut (Aleurites Moluccanus) at Different Submerge of NaOH Concentration
Darmanto*, Zaqlul Iqbal, Musthofa Lutfi, Arifka Intan Savira

Biosystems Engineering Department, Universitas Brawijaya, Jalan Veteran, Malang, 65145, East Java, Indonesia
Email: darmanto_sm[at]ub.ac.id

Abstract

This research aimed to analyse some physical and mechanical properties of candlenut at different submerge of NaOH concentration. The sample was submerged by five different concentrations, which were 3%, 3.5%, 4%, 4.5%, and 5% of NaOH with one litre of water as a solvent. After submersion, the samples dried using oven and then tested using Brazilian testing machine. Physical and mechanical properties of these samples were then examined comprising compressive load, required energy to damage shell, kernel intactness, and MWD (mean, weighted, diameter). Increasing NaOH concentration reduced compressive strength until 1,08 kgf/m2 as well as it reduced damage energy to 0,401 Nm. The 4% NaOH submerged sample had a higher percentage of kernel intactness than the others and the lowest percentage was 3,5% NaOH submerged sample. These conditions were caused by lignin degree decreasing when NaOH concentration increased. MWD showed tended not to change while the highest MWD was resulted by 3% NaOH submerged candlenut which it was 1, 33.

Keywords: candlenut, mechanical properties, NaOH concentration, physical properties

Topic: Agricultural and bioprocess engineering