Determining the Crystallinity Index of Cellulose in Chemically and Mechanically Extracted Banana Fiber for the Synthesis of Nanocellulose

Abstract

ABSTRACT The aims of this study were to identify the best method of extracting cellulose from lignocellulosic fibers based on crystallinity index in the preparation of nanocellulose. Cellulose fibers were extracted by chemical and mechanical methods from Embul variety (AAB) of banana. The chemically extracted cellulose were developed into nanocellulose using acid hydrolysis, as it showed ahigher crystallinity index (61.7%) in the X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis compared to mechanical extraction (50.8%). The crystallinity index of nanocellulose showed abetter value (70.7%) and Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed that there are changes of bonding patterns of active groups at different stages of extraction process. Further, the fiber yield is lower in chemical extraction compared to mechanical extraction method. The finding reveals that the method of fiber extraction has great influence on quantity and quality of the cellulosic materials to be used, in commercial utilization.