Tandan kosong kelapa sawit memiliki kandungan selulosa 45,95%, kadar abu sebanyak 1,23%, hemiselulosa sebanyak 22,84%, kadar air sebanyak 3,74% dan lignin sebanyak 16,49%. Selulosa dapat dimanfaatkan sebagai bahan utama Na– CMC (Natrium Carboxymethyl Celullose). Na-CMC biasa digunakan untuk eksipien farmasi sebagai binder tablet karena bersifat higroskopis. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah mensintesis, mengkarakterisasi serbuk, dan gugus fungsi Na– CMC dari selulosa tandan kosong kelapa sawit sebagai kandidat binder tablet. Pembuatan Na-CMC dilakukan dengan alkalisasi dengan NaOH 30%, karboksimetilasi dengan asam trikloroasetat 25%, dan penetralan menggunakan asam asetat glasial. Hasil dari penelitian ini didapatkan Na-CMC sebanyak 3 gram berbentuk serbuk, berwarna putih, tidak berasa, dan tidak berbau. Nilai pH yang didapatkan pada Na-CMC adalah 6. Na-CMC yang disintesis terdispersi dalam air, namun mengendap dalam etanol dan eter. Pengujian derajat substitusi didapatkan nilai 0,7463. Lalu, viskositas dari Na-CMC yang dibuat adalah 210,66 cP. Gugus fungsi FTIR (Fourier Transform Infra-red) dari Na-CMC tandan kosong kelapa sawit memiliki karakteristik OH stretching vibration pada 3282,81 cm-1 , C-H stretching pada 2901,51 cm-1 , C=O stretching; C-H2 ;C-O stretching vibration; dan C-O-C stretching vibration berturut-turut pada 1625,09 cm-1 ; 1425,27 cm-1 ; 1315,16 cm-1 ; 1031,74 cm-1 , dan β-1,4-glikosida pada 897,16 cm-1.

Kata Kunci: Tandan kosong kelapa sawit, Selulosa, Binder Tablet , Na-CMC (Natrium Carboxymethyl Celullose), Viskositas, FTIR (Fourier Transform Infra-red) 

Oil palm empty fruit bunches contain 45.95% cellulose, 1.23% ash content, 22.84% hemicellulose, 3.74% water content and 16.49% lignin. Cellulose can be used as the main ingredient of Na-CMC (Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellullose). Na-CMC is commonly used as a pharmaceutical excipient as a tablet binder because it is hygroscopic. The purpose of this study was to determine the synthesis, powder characteristics, and functional groups of Na–CMC from oil palm empty fruit bunch cellulose as a tablet binder candidate. The preparation of Na-CMC was carried out by alkalization with 30% NaOH, carboxymethylation with 25% trichloroacetic acid, and neutralization using glacial acetic acid. The results of this study obtained as much as 3 grams of Na-CMC in the form of powder, white, tasteless, and odorless. The pH value obtained for Na-CMC was 6. The synthesized Na-CMC was dispersed in water, but precipitated in ethanol and ether. Testing the degree of substitution obtained a value of 0.7463. Then, the viscosity of the Na-CMC made was 210.66 cP. The FTIR (Fourier Transform Infra-red) functional group of NaCMC of oil palm empty fruit bunches has the characteristics of OH stretching vibration at 3282.81 cm-1 , C-H stretching at 2901.51 cm-1 , C=O stretching; C-H2 ;C-O stretching vibration; and C-O-C stretching vibration at 1625.09 cm-1, respectively; 1425.27 cm-1 ; 1315.16 cm-1 ; 1031.74 cm-1 , and β-1,4-glycoside at 897.16 cm-1.

Keywords: Oil palm empty fruit bunches, Cellulose, Binder Tablets, Na-CMC (Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellullose), Viscosity, FTIR (Fourier Transform Infra-red)