STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF THE RATIO OF SULFURIC ACID TO NITRIC ACID IN THE SYNTHESIS OF NITROCELLULOSE FROM BIOMATERIALS AS AN ALTERNATIVE RAW MATERIAL

Abstrak

Dinamika lingkungan strategis global mendorong penguatan kemandirian industri pertahanan melalui pengembangan propelan berbasis nitroselulosa. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji pengaruh rasio campuran asam penitrasi terhadap kadar nitrogen dan karakteristik nitroselulosa berbasis selulosa biomaterial sebagai alternatif bahan baku propelan. Metode penelitian dilakukan melalui studi literatur sistematis terhadap publikasi ilmiah sepuluh tahun terakhir yang relevan dengan sintesis nitroselulosa, variasi rasio asam, serta kondisi reaksi. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahwa kadar nitrogen nitroselulosa dipengaruhi secara signifikan oleh rasio H₂SO₄ : HNO₃, konsentrasi asam, suhu, dan waktu reaksi. Rasio asam dengan fraksi H₂SO₄ rendah menghasilkan rendemen tinggi namun kadar nitrogen rendah, sedangkan peningkatan fraksi H₂SO₄ hingga kondisi optimum meningkatkan derajat nitrasi dengan kadar nitrogen mencapai 13,39%, mendekati nilai teoritis 14,14%, bahkan pada kondisi tertentu mencapai 16,76%. Namun, rasio H₂SO₄ yang berlebihan berpotensi menyebabkan degradasi selulosa sehingga menurunkan efektivitas reaksi.

The dynamics of the global strategic environment drive the strengthening of defense industrial self-reliance through the development of nitrocellulose-based propellants.This study aims to examine the effect of nitrating acid ratio on nitrogen content and the characteristics of nitrocellulose derived from bio-based cellulose as an alternative propellant raw material. A systematic literature review was conducted on relevant scientific publications from the past ten years, focusing on nitrocellulose synthesis, acid ratio variation, and reaction conditions. The results indicate that nitrocellulose nitrogen content is strongly influenced by the H₂SO₄:HNO₃ ratio, acid concentration, reaction temperature, and reaction time. Lower H₂SO₄ fractions produce higher yields but lower nitrogen content, whereas increasing the H₂SO₄ ratio to an optimum level enhances the degree of nitration, yielding nitrogen contents up to 13.39%, approaching the theoretical maximum of 14.14%, and in certain conditions reaching 16.76%. However, excessive H₂SO₄ leads to cellulose degradation, thereby reducing reaction efficiency.