Starch-Calcium Carbonate Surface Coating to Enhance the Water Resistance of Empty Fruit Bunch Paper

This study evaluates the effect of a starch-calcium carbonate coating on the quality of paper produced from empty fruit bunches (EFB) of oil palm. The primary objective is to assess the changes in water absorbance of the paper before and after the coating process. Samples of EFB paper were coated and subsequently tested using a Cobb tester to measure their water absorbance. The results indicate that the coating application significantly reduced the paper’ water absorbance. These findings suggest that a starch-calcium carbonate coating can improve the quality of paper made from agricultural waste. The implications of this research may lead to new opportunities for utilizing agro-industrial waste in the paper manufacturing industry.