Compression Test for Candle Nut Shell to Obtain Minimum Fracture Strength
Darmanto, Gunomo Djoyowasito, Zaqlul Iqbal, Aulia Rahman
Agricultural Engineering Department
Department of Agricultural Technology
University of Brawijaya
darmanto_sm[at]ub.ac.id
Abstract
The most important of breaking technique of candle nut seed is how to obtain undamaged seed. It Damaged shell effects in decreasing of selling price. The candlenut seed quality is determined by its wholeness. The primary composition of its shell are hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin. Alkaline solution can be used to separate lignin and cellulose. The objective of this research is to obtain minimum fracture strength of candle nut shell. Before doing compression test, it was needed pre-treatment by soaking the candle nut into alkaline solution that were NaOH solution and NaCl solution as first factor and second factor, respectively. Each of alkaline solution concentration divided into four concentration: 4%, 5%, 6%, and 7%. Then candle nut soaked using water during 24 hours and dried using oven. Finally, each of candle nut tested using compression test to obtain minimum fracture strength. Using Completely Randomized Design (CRD), the treatment combination was repeated three times, then compared to control treatment. Resulted data analyzed using analysis of variance to understand of each treatment characteristic. The result of this research is 4% NaOH and 3.5% NaCl concentration effected on the undamaged seed. These level concentration could separate lignin and cellulose better than other concentration.
Keywords: Candle Nut Shell, Compression Test, Alkali Solution
Topic: AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING