Abstract

Cacao pod husk (Theobroma cacao L.) is a by product of the cacao industry, rich in cellulose. The methodology to synthesize and uniqueness of the sodium carboxymethylcellulose (Na-CMC) is suggested by cellulose extraction from pod husk of cacao. Na-CMC was synthesized by using 20 ml NaOH at five various concentrations (11.59, 15, 20, 25, and 28.41% w/v) at 25°C for 1 h; followed with 5 sodium monochloracetate (NMCA) samples 3.18, 4, 5, 6 and 6.68 g, respectively with 5 g of cellulose was added to slurry at various temperature (46.59, 50, 55, 60 and 63.41°C) for 3 h. The response surface methodology used to determine the optimum condition for synthesis of NaCMC. The data showed that the optimum condition is 15% NaOH with 4 g NMCA, at 55.93°C for 3 h.  Extracted Na-CMC has 0.75° of substitution (DS), 3.73 g/g water holding capacity (WHC), 2.12 g/g oil holding capacity (OHC), 56.61 lightness, 206.10 cps viscosity, and 141.60% yield.

Key words: Cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, cacao pod husk.