KARAKTERISTIK SIFAT FISIKO KIMIA, STRUKTUR DAN MORFOLOGI GULA AREN CETAK

Abstract

Physicochemical of arenga palm sugar blocks produced by farmer was vary one to another. Therefore,
it is necessary to characterize and standarize the quality of those palm sugar blocks. This study aims to
determine the nature of the physicochemical, structural and morphological properties of palm sugar block
produced by farmers compared to control as a raw material palm sugar granules. The result of analysis showed
11.0-14.4% of moisture content, 0.4 -0.7%, of insoluble material, 143.4-319.8% of total acid, 2.1-3.7% of ash
content, 1.0-4.3% of reducing sugar and 83.7-93.5% of sucrose. Generally, arenga palm sugar blocks produced
by farmer (sample A, B, C, D and E) were different with sample F (made by the research) except the reducing
sugar content, but all of the characteristics of the palm sugar blocks met the SNI quality standard except ash
content. The structure of the palm sugar block produced by farmers have a lower crystallinity (57.12-65.24%)
compared with sample F (68.68%). In general, morphology of palm sugar blocks were made up of octahedron
crystal particles agregated by a dough-like binder. The palm sugar block spectrum showed the presence of the
aldehyde, aromatic and carboxylic acid functional groups.
Keywords: molded arenga palm sugar, granulated palm sugar, physicochemical, microstructure, morphology