Synthesis of galactomannan maleic ester from galactomannan Arenga pinnata Merr with maleic anhydride using microwave method and sodium hydrogen carbonate Available to Purchase

The synthesis of galactomannan maleic esters has been conducted by esterification of galactomannan palm seed (Arenga pinnata Merr.) with maleic anhydride using NaHCO3 as catalyst assisted by microwave irradiation. Extraction of galactomannan from palm seeds was carried out using water and ethanol as solvent followed by drying resulting galactomannan of 4.3%. The esterification was performed under microwave irradiation with power of 10P for 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 minutes. The formation of a galactomannan ester was indicated by the appearance of a peak at a wavenumber of 1722 cm^-1 which showed the presence of a C=O ester group. The titration method was used to determine the degree of substitution of the ester formed. The highest degree of substitution was 2.47 which obtained after 9 minutes irradiation. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis shows changes in surface morphology from bumpy fused fiber in galactomannan to sided coarse grains which indicates that an esterification reaction has occurred in galactomannan.