Wida Banar Kusumaningrum, Theresa Stefany, Anggraini Wulansari, Fazhar Akbar, Yudhi Dwi Kurniawan, Nanang Masruchin
Paper-based food packaging is increasingly used nowadays related to its biodegradability and recyclability. However, this kind of paper packaging is still coated using non-biodegradable plastics such as polyethylene and polypropylene for maintaining water and moisture resistance. These research aims are to study the effect of citric acid crosslinking on the paper surface and to investigate the effect of sodium dihydrogen phosphate (SDP) as a food grade catalyst on physic and mechanical properties of coated papers. Old corrugated paper layers were disaggregation using a laboratory waring blender in 3 min, then mold in the round paper molding. Papers were coated with a citric acid solution in 5, 10, and 15% (w/w) and then activated at 150, 170, and 190 °C for 3, 5, and 7 min. In addition, 5 g/m2 of SDP was reacted in 10% of citric acid solution. Papers that were processed at 190 °C provide the best water absorption and moisture resistance up to 40.67 and 50% respectively than untreated paper. In the activation time effect, 7 min in 10% of concentration result in water absorption reduction and moisture resistance up to 57 and 75% than untreated paper. Catalyst addition does not affect the physical properties, yet increases the mechanical properties that could reach 8.13 MPa for tensile strength and 1.11 GPa for modulus of elasticity. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2025.
Research Center for Biomass and Bioproduct, National Research and Innovation Agency, West Java, Bogor, Indonesia; Agricultural Technology, Universitas Brawijaya, East Java, Malang, Indonesia
