Fabrikasi Filter Udara Wet-Laid Nonwoven Berbasis Serat TKKS dan Low Melt Polyester

Abstract

TKKS merupakan limbah lignoselulosa yang berpotensi dimanfaatkan sebagai bahan baku media filter udara berbasis serat alami. Penelitian ini bertujuan memfabrikasi filter udara wet-laid nonwoven berbasis TKKS menggunakan Low Melt Polyester (LMP) sebagai thermal binder, menganalisis pengaruh variasi komposisi TKKS terhadap karakteristik filter, serta membandingkan permeabilitas udaranya dengan filter komersial. Pulp TKKS diperoleh melalui proses hidrolisis, delignifikasi, dan bleaching, kemudian difabrikasi menggunakan metode wet-laid nonwoven yang dilanjutkan dengan thermal bonding pada suhu 130 °C tanpa penggunaan perekat kimia cair. Filter yang dihasilkan dikarakterisasi melalui analisis komposisi lignoselulosa, gramasi, morfologi pori, permeabilitas udara, sifat permukaan, dan sifat mekanik. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pulp TKKS memiliki kandungan selulosa sebesar 76% dan lignin sebesar 9%. Variasi komposisi TKKS memengaruhi karakteristik fisik, morfologi, permeabilitas udara, sifat permukaan, dan sifat mekanik filter. Filter berbasis TKKS-LMP memiliki koefisien permeabilitas udara sebesar 3,77 × 10-14 – 4,88 × 10-14 m2 yang relatif sebanding dengan filter komersial. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa serat TKKS berpotensi dikembangkan sebagai bahan baku alternatif media filter udara yang lebih berkelanjutan melalui proses fabrikasi tanpa perekat kimia cair.

Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches (OPEFB) are lignocellulosic biomass waste with potential as a raw material for natural fiber-based air filter media. This study aimed to fabricate wet-laid nonwoven air filters based on OPEFB fibers using Low Melt Polyester (LMP) as a thermal binder, analyze the effect of OPEFB composition on the filter characteristics, and compare their air permeability with that of a commercial filter. OPEFB pulp was prepared through hydrolysis, delignification, and bleaching processes, followed by fabrication using the wet-laid nonwoven method and thermal bonding at 130 °C without the use of chemical adhesives. The fabricated filters were characterized by lignocellulosic composition, basis weight, pore morphology, air permeability, surface properties, and mechanical properties. The results showed that the OPEFB pulp contained 76% cellulose and 9% lignin. Variations in OPEFB composition affected the physical characteristics, pore morphology, air permeability, surface properties, and mechanical properties of the filters. The OPEFB-LMP filters exhibited air permeability coefficients ranging from 3.77 × 10-14 to 4.88 × 10-14 m2, which were comparable to those of the commercial filter. These findings demonstrate that OPEFB fibers have the potential to serve as an alternative raw material for more sustainable air filter media through a fabrication process that does not require chemical adhesives.