INULIN EXTRACTOR DESIGN TO DEVELOP THE POTENTIAL OF DAHLIA

PLANT IN WEST SUMATRA

Elmi Sundari1*, Erti Praputri1 , Maihendra Jaya1, Puji Agenta1
Chemical Engineering Department, Bung Hatta University
Jl. Gajah Mada 19 Gunung Pangilun Padang
elmisundari@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
Inulin is one of nessesary prebiotic used in growing stimulation and non phatogenic
bacteria activity in degistive tract. Inulin is very benifical prebiotic for body that acts to
decrease pathogenic bacteria in gut, boost imunity, and reduce the risk of osteoporosis by
increasing calcium absorption. Limitation of the scale production become an obstacle in a
process of inulin production. The aim of this research is to design an extractor which
could be used in a larger sacle of inulin production. The first stage of this research was to
design the extractor and test it. The test consisted two process including cutter testing to
obtain starch from dahlia tuber and heater testing to extract inulin. Extracting inulin from
starch was done by adding water as solvent in ratio 1 : 2 at 700C with a variety of heating
time 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes. After the extraction was done, the inulin solution was
filtrated and allowed to stand at 100C for 72 hours to obtain the wet inulin. Then, the wet
inulin was dried in the oven to remove the water content thus obtained dried inulin. The
result showed acquisiton of inulin per mass of dry starch at 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes
was 42.9%, 47.18%, 59.09% and 70.39%, respectively.
Key words : dahlia tuber, extractor, cutter, extraction, heating, Inulin.