Kinetics Study the Decomposition of the Cellulose into Cellulose Nanocrystals by Hydrothermal with Hydrochloric Acid Catalyst

The aim of this study was to hydrolyzed cellulose nanocrystals as cellulose-based biomass residues from oil palm by using hydrochloric acid under hydrothermal conditions. The characterization of cellulose nanocrystals was determined by FT-IR spectroscopy and X- ray diffraction. The infrared spectroscopy showed there has been a removal of lignin and hemicellulose in the spectrum. Crystallinity which reaches 78.59% was obtained by hydrolysis using hydrochloric acid catalyst 3 mol/L with a reaction time of 1 hour. Based on the graph of -ln C_A/C_A0 vs. time obtained that Cellulose nanocrystals forming reaction is of first order. The reaction rate constants to the formation of glucose (k₂) is greater than the reaction rate constant to the formation of Cellulose nanocrystals (k₁), which indicates that the phase of slow reaction is the reaction of the most influential on the overall reaction rate, the reaction of the formation of Cellulose nanocrystals.