DEVELOPMENT OF PAPER TOWELS BASED ON WATERMELON RIND (Citrullus lanatus) AS AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE THE CLEAN LIFE IN THE NEW NORMAL ERA OF COVID-19
Septia Ardiani, Antinah Latif

Politeknik Negeri Media Kreatif

Abstract

Preventing infection in the new normal of COVID-19 is important so that the spread of infectious diseases can be controlled. Various types of products have been developed to improve public health, including the prevention of infectious diseases caused by various microbes such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other pathogens. The paper towels used by the community are one of the sanitation products that are currently an important commodity for improving a healthy and clean lifestyle. Watermelon rind is a waste fruit peel that has not been used properly and even it has the potential to be an alternative raw material for making paper products due to the content of lignin, cellulose, etc. The aim of this research is to develop sanitizing products in the form of paper towels containing antimicrobials from watermelon skins so that they can improve a clean lifestyle and prevent various infectious diseases. This research method starts with pulp making which is divided into five stages, namely drying, pulping, bleaching, and printing. After that, the product was tested using the FTIR test to determine the contents of the paper towels. Next, the characterization of the physical properties includes basis weight, absorption, tensile strength and tear resistance.

Keywords: Paper Towels, Antimicrobial, Waste of Watermelon Rind, Physical Characterization

Topic: Interdisciplinary Physics