Synthesis of cassava starch based nano-hydrogels using gamma irradiation

Abstract

Cassava tubers are one of the most starch producers in Indonesia, which is third after rice and corn. Cassava tubers starch can be used as raw material of natural polymer-based nanohydrogel synthesis. The use of natural polymers promises superior properties such as more eco-friendly, cheaper prices because their raw materials are available naturally in abundant quantities compared to synthetic polymers. To obtain similar properties to synthetic, this study modified starch using acid hydrolysis method for 2 hours and 24 hours. The ethanol precipitation method is then carried out to produce nano-particle starch. The process of nano-hydrogel formation was cunducted by gamma irradiation. The results showed that the size of starch nanoparticles was between 14.97 - 492.7 nm. Nano-hydrogel with gamma irradiation treatment has 256.81% of swelling power, 83.35% of gel fraction, and 3.81 mJ of hardness. Meanwhile, the treatment without gamma irradiation has 365.47% of swelling, but has an unstable structure, this is indicated by 61.45% of gel fraction and 2.36 mJ of hardness.