Rigid Foams Based on Albumin and Gambier Tannin (Uncaria gambir Roxb.)

Gambier is one of the largest sources of condensed tannins in Indonesia which has the potential as a raw material for rigid foam. Environment friendly rigid foam can be made from a mixture of gambier tannin, albumin, pTSA and hexamine. The purpose of this study was to investigate how albumin preparation and gambier tannin extraction methods affect the quality of rigid foam. Albumin preparation was carried out by a fermentation process using Rhizopus sp. yeast and then drying using the pan drying and foam drying methods. Extraction was carried out by heating using a magnetic stirrer and microwave-assisted methods. Based on the results of the study, the best rigid foam is the rigid foam with a combination of pan drying and microwave assisted. This rigid foam has a high density, high compressive strength, low swelling degree, resulting in a denser and harder rigid foam and based on SEM test showed closed and open pores in the rigid foam with a pore size of around 60.47 µm. Keywords: Secondary metabolites, hydrolyzed tannins, Maillard reaction, tannins extract.