Vol.5 (2015) No.

4
ISSN: 2088-5334

Degradation of Acid Cyanide Poison in Rubber Seed

(Hevea brasiliensis) after Treatment with Rice Husk Ash
Dewi Fortuna#1, Abdul Rahimsyah#, Yuniwati Puspitasari#
#
Faculty of Agricultural Technology, University of Jambi,
Indonesia E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract— Rubber seed (Hevea brasiliensis) contains protein (17.41 %) and non-essential amino acid cysteine (0.78 %) and acid
cyanide poison (186.00 mg/kg). The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of rice husk ash on degradation of acid
cyanide in rubber seed. This research used Completely Randomized Design (CRD) using treatment of rice husk ash concentration
with 5 levels of treatments (45; 60; 75; 90; 105 %) and 4 replications. The result showed nonsignificant differences (p>0.05) in
degradation of acid cyanide level during aging and significant differences (p<0.05) during soaking. Rubber seed treated with 90% of
rice husk ash during aging period contained cyanide 47.25 ppm and rubber seed treated with 60% of rice husk ash during soaking
period contained cyanide 40.37 ppm.

Keywords— rubber seed, HCN, rice husk ash, aging, soaking.

materials which include Al2O3, SiO2 [11], biomass materials

I. INTRODUCTION and agricultural by-products such as walnut waste, maize
Rubber seeds (Hevea brasiliensis) are not currently in use cobs, peanut shell, cassava waste, wheat bran, maize husk,
and they are found abundantly and wasted [1]. Rubber seeds coconut shell and bagasse [12]. Rice husk ash could be used
yield from rubber plantations varies from 100 to 150 kg/ha, as adsorbent to remove cyanide, good scavenger and low-
depending on soil fertility, crop density [2]. Indonesia had cost [9]. Absorbent material can adsorb HCN poison on
estimated 539.600 ha of rubber plantation, and Gadung corm using ash of wood 15 % can reduce HCN by
approximately 53960-80940 ton/ha rubber seed were wasted 63.78% [13]. Aging in 30% rice husk ash solution for 24
[3]. Rubber seed contains nutritive values that can be hour could reduce HCN Lindur fruit to 3.435 ppm [14].
harnessed as human food, 3.99% moisture, 17.41 g/100g Soaking of Cassava chips in water for about 24 h reduced
protein, 68.53 g/100g fat, 3.08 g/100g ash, and high in 90% HCN [10]. The effect of rice husk ash on degradation
glutamic acid (16.13%) [4]. Rubber seed kernel contained of acid cyanide as a function of contact time, pH, adsorbate
(dry matter basis) 21.5% crude protein, 50.2% crude fat, concentration and temperature [9].
6.5% crude fibred, 3.6% ash and 18.2% carbohydrates, and
reasonable amounts of trace minerals [5]. Despite its II. MATERIALS AND METHODS
potential source of nutritive values, fresh rubber seeds A. Material
contained a toxic factor; Cyanogenic Glycoside (186 ppm)
called Linamarin (C10H17NO6), which can be catalytically The fresh rubber seeds used in this study were collected
hydrolyzed and, release toxic hydrogen cyanide (HCN) ([6]; from rubber plantation in Sarolangun, Jambi, Indonesia. The
[4]). Amount of cyanide into the body should not exceed 1 samples were used for this experiment where from the same
mg/kg body weight/day [7]. plantation. The seeds were stored in freezer (-10C), until
A wide variety of different methods to reduce HCN further required.
content was soaking, boiling, drying [8] and adsorbent [9]. Preparation of Adsorbent, the rice husk used was obtained
The improving processing methods or a combination of them from rice Mill in Sarolangun, Jambi, Indonesia. The rice
(peeling, slicing, soaking, boiling, drying etc.) could be husk was incineration from 2-3 hours until dark color and
reducing cyanide content of cassava [10]. sieved with 60 mesh sieve. Then the husk ash was
The naturally occurring materials which are used as thoroughly stored in plastic bags and sealed.
adsorbents such as the minerals, zeolites, clays and synthetic
B. Method The research used Completely Randomized Design (CRD)

1
consisted of five level of treatment of rice husk ash B. Soaking
concentrations (45; 60; 75; 90; 105 %) in three processing
Degradation of HCN poison level in soaking rubber seed
technique and four replications. HCN Analyses were carried
were significantly differences (p<0.05). The average values
out using Spectrophotometry method [15].
of HCN poison were decreasing by increasing of rice husk
C. Processing Techniques ash concentration (Table 2). The decreasing HCN on
soaking in the water processing technique lowest than aging
1) Aging: A set of rubber seed (250 g) was boiled in alone (Table 2 and Table 1)
distilled water (100°C) for 15 min. After boiling, the water
was drained off, the boiled seeds were peeled and then aging TABLE II
HCN POISON LEVEL (PPM) AFTER SOAKING RUBBER SEED IN
with rice husk ash on different concentration for 24 hours DIFFERENT CONCENTRATION OF RICE HUSK ASH.
and then wash in water.
Rice Husk Ash (%) HCN (ppm)
2) Soaking: A set of rubber seed (250 g) was boiled in
distilled water (100°C) for 15 min. After boiling, the water 45 58.61 a
was drained off, the boiled seeds were peeled and then aging 60 40.37 ab
75 33.22 b
with rice husk ash on different concentration for 24 hours
90 32.86 b
and then wash in water. Rubber seed soaked in 500 ml of 105 30.54 b
water (1:2 w/v) for 24 hours for each level of treatment.
Means with the same superscript in the same column were not
3) Boiling: A set of rubber seed (100 g) was boiled in significantly different (p>0.05).
distilled water (100°C) for 15 min. After boiling, the water
was drained off, the boiled seeds were peeled and then aging Rubber seed treated with 60%-105% of rice husk ash
with rice husk ash on different concentration for 24 hours during soaking-period contained cyanide 40.37-30.54 ppm,
and then wash in water. Rubber seed soaked in 500 ml of it is under standard from BPOM as 53.76 ppm [7]. These
water for 24 hours for each level of treatment, then boiled values are lowest than the rubber seed treated with soaking
(1005C) for 1.5 hour for each level of treatment. in running water for 24 hours values of 52.60 ppm [18].
The soaking in water caused diffusion and osmosis
III. RESULT AND DISCUSSION process, which diluted the HCN in rubber seed and produced
foam and opaque solution. Rubber seed during soaking
A. Aging process degraded HCN level because CaO + HCN reacted to
The concentration of rice husk ash were not significantly CaCN + H2O. CaCN will be dissolved in water to decrease
differences (p>0.05) in degradation of HCN poison level in HCN poison level during soaking process. Aging rubber
rubber seed, but the average value of HCN poison were seed with rice husk ash followed by soaking in the water is
decreasing by increasing of rice husk ash concentration better than aging alone in removing cyanide.
(Table 1).
Rubber seed treated with 90%-105% of rice husk ash C. Boiling
during aging-period contained cyanide 47.25-43.74 ppm, it Degradation of HCN poison level in boiling rubber seed
is under standard from BPOM as 53.76 ppm [7]. were very significantly differences (p<0.01). The average
Rice husk ash is adsorptive properties, contains strong values of HCN poison were decreasing by increasing of rice
base such as CaO (0.5-1.4%) and K2O (2.46-3.68%) [16]. It husk ash concentration (Table 3). The decreasing HCN on
reacted with HCN and O2 around it yielding CaCN and KCN boiling processing technique lowest than soaking and aging
salt which easily soluble in water. alone (Table 2 and Table 1).
Carbon could extract cyanide from the samples then
transfer thought the porous carbon and absorb in to the TABLE III
boundary carbon so it could reduce the cyanide HCN POISON LEVEL (PPM) AFTER BOILING RUBBER SEED IN DIFFERENT
concentration [17]. CONCENTRATION OF RICE HUSK ASH.

Rice Husk Ash (%) HCN (ppm)

TABLE I
HCN POISON LEVEL (PPM) AFTER AGING RUBBER SEED IN 45 33.32 a
DIFFERENT CONCENTRATION OF RICE HUSK ASH 60 32.99 a
75 15.72 b
Rice Husk Ash (%) HCN (ppm) 90 15.21 b
105 11.26 b
45 73.09
60 71.65 Means with the same superscript in the same column were not
75 68.39 significantly different (p>0.05).
90 47.25
105 43.74 Rubber seed treated with 45-105% of rice husk ash
Means with the same superscript in the same column were not followed soaking in the water and boiling contained cyanide
significantly different (p>0.05). 33.32-11.26 ppm, it is lowest than cyanide standard from
BPOM as 53.76 ppm [7]. These values are lowest than the
rubber seed treated with boiling for 10-20 minutes values of
71.78–54.15 ppm [18]. Ninety precent of free cyanide is
removed within 15 minutes of boiling fresh cassava chips temperature [9].
[19]. The adsorption of cyanide increases with increasing HCN rubber seed boiled decreasing is influenced by aging rice husk
2
ash in the previous stage in which the rice husk ash can Rubber seed treated with 90% of rice husk ash during aging
inhibit the oxidation of toxic and carcinogenic nature contained cyanide 47.25 ppm. Rubber seed treated with 60%
neutralizes acid in the material [20]. Rice husk ash as well as of rice husk ash followed soaking in the water contained
an adsorbent for a porous material that can act as hydrolyzed cyanide 40.37 ppm. Rubber seed treated with 45% of rice
crude fiber [9]. husk ash followed soaking in the water and boiling
Processing with soaking in hot water it is one form of contained cyanide 33.32 ppm.
physical treatment that can be used to eliminate the HCN
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