Research and Development of

bio-plate from Durian husk

S. Tengrang*, N. Leabwan, W. Wattanawichit, K. Loylerd,
T. Vichitcholchai and S. Sukhasem
Postharvest and Processing Research and Development Division,
Department of Agriculture, Thailand

Introduction

The statistic data from office of Agricultural Economic in year 2014

- Durian production
> 631,631 tons
- Exported > 387,533 tons

Processed durian
were exported
> 17,951 tons

Durian husk residue

> 10,770 tons
Waste

Introduction

Durian husk has chemical composition as wood such as cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin.
Fiber from durian husk is non-wood fibers type same as bagasse, rice straw, wheat straw and
bamboo which uses in particle board production, paper and pulp molded packaging
Therefore, fiber of durian husk has a potentiality to use as raw material for packaging.
It can be used as an environment friendly replacement instead of foam.

Objective

Produce the bio-plate from durian husk by hot compression molding.

Alkyl ketene dimer (AKD) was used as sizing agent for improve water resistance of bio-plate.

The properties were examined to comparing with bio-plate from bagasse (commercial plate)

Materials and Methods

1. Raw Material Selection
Durian husks (Cv. Monthong and Chanee) used in this investigation
was obtained from Talaadthai market in Pathumthani province,
Thailand.

The fresh husk was cut into pieces around 3 mm. in thickness and dried
in oven at 55 C for 24 hours.

A raw material analysis was performed following TAPPI standards and

selected from best properties.

Materials and Methods

2. Cellulose Preparation
Unbleached Fiber

Bleached fiber

- The selected husk

was cooked with
1 M NaOH at 8090 C for 1 hr.,
- liquor: husk ratio is
100:1

- Unbleached fiber
has been further
bleached with 30%
H2O2 at 70 C for
1 hr.

- Fiber washed by
water to remove
the chemicals
- Dried in oven at
55 C

- Fiber washed by
water and dried in
oven at 55 C

Cellulose yield
calculated

Materials and Methods

3. Bio-plate Pre-form Preparation
Bio-plate pre-form was prepared by disperse dry fiber into water to
form a slurry by moulinex as 10 g of fiber:1 L of water ratio.

- The slurry was poured into 9.5" round sieve and immersed into water.
- Then shake it until fiber uniformly settled over the sieve.
- Take the sieve out of the water and wait until to drain

- Sieve was solar dried 2-3 hours

- Sieve was dried in oven at 55 C for 24 hours.

- Fiber would be dried and bio-plate pre-form could be removed

from the sieve.

Materials and Methods

4. Bio-Plate Preparation
Bio-plate pre-form was produced to 7 round bio-plate through a hydraulic compression machine
under pressure 150 bar for 5 min at 150, 160, 170 and 180 C.
Mechanical and physical properties were examined following Thai industrial standard: 966-2547
and JIS A 5906-1994
Suitable temperature was selected

- Bio-plate was treated with sizing agents (AKD) to improve water resistance properties.
- Varied proportions of AKD were added into the preform processing at 1.25, 2.5, 3, 4 and 5% (w/w)
- Mechanical and physical properties of bio-plate pre-form were examined following standard.
- The optimal quantity of AKD was selected

- The 7 round bio-plate forming through a hydraulic compression machine under P 150 bar
for 5 min at suitable temperature and optimal amount obtained of AKD.
- The mechanical and physical properties were analyzed, on the basis of Thai industrial standard,
JIS, ASTM, TAPPI and ISO compared with bio-plate from bagasse.

Results and Discussion

1. Raw Material Selection
- Durian husks both Cv.
Monthong and Chanee
properties are not much
different.

- The husk of monthong has

higher holocellulose and
alpha-cellulose as 53.70 and
36.90% whereas husk of
chanee has 51.6 and 35.7%.
- Fiber lengths of monthong
and chanee husk are 1.84 and
1.86 mm, which the short
fiber type (length 2 mm.).
- The husk of monthong was
selected to raw material.

Results and Discussion

2. Cellulose Preparation
- Alkali extraction of monthong husk with NaOH
solution at 1 M shown in brown color fiber as,
L* as 45.13 and 21.51% yield of cellulose.

- In an alkali condition extraction, hemicellulose and

lignin were degraded and dissolve.

- Cellulose was more brightness, white color,

L* as 91.54 after lignin was removed by H2O2

bleaching.
- yield of cellulose was 84.80%.

Results and Discussion

3. Bio-Plate Preparation
-Suitable Temperature
-

The plates are best forming as

compression molding
condition at 150 bar, 5 min and
no additive added.

The results of Table 2, shown

properties of bio-plate were
improved as higher temp.

The suitable temp. is 160 C

The bleached plate has the best

properties than unbleached
especially thickness swelling as
71.80-95.67% and 90.24-110.21%
respectively.

Results and Discussion

3. Bio-Plate Preparation
-Suitable AKD
- Table 3 shown the properties
of bio-plate pre-form were
improved as the amount of
AKD increase.
- Water resistance was improved
when AKD increase.
- The optimal quantity of AKD is
3% w/w .
- Thickness swelling as 1.83%,
water absorption as 257.59%
and drop test as 129.67 sec/H2O
0.05 cm3.

Results and Discussion

4. Bio-Plate Properties

The unbleached bio-plate is formed better than bleached bio-plate because unbleached fiber has lignin.

Lignin consists of aromatic substances which can soften at 70-80 C and partly liquid at 120 C .
This property, it can adhere cellulose fiber together as glue.

Results and Discussion

4. Bio-Plate Properties
The properties of bleached plate
- Density of 573.44 kg/cm3
- Thickness swelling at 24 hrs. of
89.68%
- water adsorption of 294.09%
- drop test > 7 hrs.
better than bleached plate
The Physical properties of
Unbleached plate indicated lower
than plate from bagasse.
Plate from bleached fiber had a
potential for further
development.

Conclusions
This investigation shown the possibility of utilizing residue from durian processing
plant.
The durian husk was selected for making bio-plate, intended to add values from
wastes.
Bio-plate were produced through hydraulic compression machine at condition as
150 bar, 160 C for 5 min and improved water resistance property by AKD 3% w/w.
Durian husk fiber was capable to being used for bio-plate, especially bleached plate.
However, it is necessary to make a further investigation in deformation and leakage
properties when hot oil and hot water holding capacity and compostable time.

Acknowledgements
Rubber Research Institute of Thailand, Department of Agriculture
Department of Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart
University
Akzo Nobel Paints (Thailand) Ltd.

Thank You

Siriporn Tengrang
Postharvest and Processing Research and Development
Division,
Department of Agriculture, Thailand
Tel : +662 9405468
E-mail : aom153@hotmail.com