CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND THERMAL ANALYSIS OF CELLULOSE EXTRACTED FROM SENDUDUK (Melastoma malabathricum L.)

Abstract

Melastoma malabathricum L. (M. malabathricum), or known locally as “senduduk”, is a dispersed shrub that can be found growing wildly and abundantly in nature. However, there have been limited studies on the chemical composition and utilisation of M. malabathricum, especially in terms of cellulose materials. Thus, this study aims to determine the chemical composition of M. malabathricum through its leaves and branches using the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry methods. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to characterise the extracted cellulose. The cellulose content extracted from the branches and leaves were 47.8% (w/w) and 36.5% (w/w), respectively. Results from the FTIR analysis confirmed that the peaks of extracted cellulose from leaves and branches have approximately the same pattern as commercial cellulose. TGA thermograms showed that the thermal degradation of cellulose obtained from the branches and leaves occurs around 350ºC and for DSC thermograms, the exothermic peak was observed at 330ºC. Both results are similar to the decomposition temperatures of commercial cellulose. The findings suggested that M. malabathricum has high potential in terms of being a source for plant-based cellulose for consumption and an alternative to conventional and/or synthetic cellulose in the market.