Pengembangan Biocomposites Silika Amorf (SiO2) Termodifikasi Na-Alginat Menggunakan Crosslinker Kalsium Klorida (CaCl2)

Abstract

Alginate, a widely known polysaccharide hydrocolloid, can be produced from brown algae (Phaeophyceae), particularly the species Sargassum polycystum, due to its cell walls being rich in polysaccharides. Silica, or silicon dioxide SiO₂, is the most abundant mineral in the Earth's crust, formed by the polymerization of silicic acid and possessing a chain structure of tetrahedral SiO₂ units, resulting in the general formula SiO₄. A calcium chloride CaCl₂ solution is often used as a cross-linking agent in polysaccharide-based systems. This research aims to perform the characterization of Amorphous Silica Alginate (ASA) beads cross-linked using CaCl₂, by varying the alginate and silica ratio (1:1.5; 1:2; and 1:2.5), and to evaluate the effect of adding 2 grams of CaCO₃ as a porogen on the effectiveness of the ASA beads in degrading methylene blue dye. The successfully prepared beads were comprehensively characterized, including the determination of their key properties such as diameter, porosity, and swelling ability. The incorporated structural and functional modifications successfully facilitated the synthesis of an innovative biocomposite based on renewable natural resources (NR), which exhibits fully-degradable ecological properties. This material innovation is specifically designed to achieve a controlled biodegradation rate post-end-of-life (EOL), mitigating negative environmental impacts. This success provides a strong basis for application scale optimization, especially in the development of precision drug-delivery systems in the medical field, cutting-edge growing media formulations with nutrient efficiency in the agricultural sector, and high-performance adsorbent materials for industrial pollutant remediation.