Enhancement of the Amazonian A çaí Waste Fibers through Variations of Alkali Pretreatment Parameters.

Enhancement of the Amazonian Açaí Waste Fibers through Variations of Alkali Pretreatment Parameters. Chem Biodivers. 2019 Aug 13;: Authors: de Oliveira DNPS, Claro PIC, de Freitas RR, Martins MA, Souza TM, da S E Silva BM, Mendes LM, Bufalino L Abstract The açaí fruit depulping produces large amounts of long lignocellulosic fiber bundles that are disposed in the environment. Chemical pretreatments may improve açaí fibers favoring their usage in advanced materials. This work aimed to define optimal alkali reaction parameters to improve the properties of açaí fibers. Two NaOH concentrations (5 % and 10 %) and two reaction temperatures (80 °C and 100 °C) were tested. The raw and treated fibers were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermal analyses. All the alkali pretreatments separated fibers from the bundles, unblocked pit channels by removing silicon structures, exposed the inner lignin, partially removed non-cellulosic compounds, and raised the cellulose crystalline index. The highest temperature and NaOH content resulted in better cleaning and isolation of the fibers, while milder conditions better preserved the cellulose crystalline structure and thermal stability. PMID: 31407869 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Chemistry and Biodiversity - Category: Biochemistry Authors: Tags: Chem Biodivers Source Type: research