Nanocellulose obtained from residues of peach palm extraction (Bactris gasipaes)

Publication date: Available online 20 April 2019Source: Carbohydrate PolymersAuthor(s): Talita Szlapak Franco, Daniele C. Potulski, Lívia C. Viana, Eriel Forville, Alan S. de Andrade, Graciela Inês Bolzón de MunizAbstractThe large amount of residues generated by the peach palm agroindustry and its cellulose content (34 g 100g−1) motivated the present investigation, where outer sheaths were used for nanocellulose production through ultrafine grinding. Protocols combining different chemical delignification with defibrillation intensity (10 and 20 cycles) were applied and their influence over some properties and characteristics of nanofibers evaluated. At all protocols applied it was possible produce cellulose at nanometric level (widths ˜100 nm), with high crystallinity index (49.8–54.5%) and great thermal stability. The delignification influenced the defibrillation, where lignin removal resulted in well dispersed bundles of fibrils with lower widths. Lower lignin contents combined with higher shear forces released more nanofibrils, with more adsorbed water with defibrillation extension. These behavior influenced the suspension stability, that was higher at larger number of cycles (20). The results evidenced that was possible produced FNC with appropriate technical characteristics from pupunha discards.Graphical abstract
Source: Carbohydrate Polymers - Category: Biomedical Science Source Type: research