Extraction of Cellulose Acetate from Cajuput (Melaleuca leucadendron) Twigs and Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) Bagasse by Environmentally Friendly Approach

Roni Maryana,Muryanto Muryanto,Yanni Sudiyani,Oktaviani Oktaviani,Atanu Kumar Das,Hafiizh Prasetia,Eka Triwahyuni

doi:10.1007/s12649-021-01610-y

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the extraction of cellulose acetate (CA) from cajuput (Melaleuca leucadendron) twigs and sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) bagasse using an environmentally friendly method. At first, cellulose was extracted from cajuput twigs (CT) and sugarcane bagasse (SB) through prehydrolysis followed by soda (NaOH) pulping and elemental chlorine-free (ECF) bleaching. Later, the extracted cellulose was acetylated using iodine (I) as a catalyst. The obtained CA was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and X-ray diffraction. FTIR and NMR analysis proved the replacement of free OH (hydroxyl) groups by acetyl groups. The degree of substitution (DS) showed the acetylation capability of cellulose extracted from CT and SB as well. The diameter of CA and its crystallinity index (CrI) were measured by SEM and X-ray diffraction, respectively. The cellulose content was 85.4 and 89.5% for CT and SB, respectively after the pulping and bleaching. The diameter of CA extracted from CT was approximately 10 μm and it was approximately 20 to 30 μm for SB. The CrI of the CA extracted from SB and CT was 75.6 and 60.2, respectively. Furthermore, the thermal gravimetric analysis showed that CA extracted from CT and SB was thermal resistant. Therefore, CT and SB will be potential alternative resources for CA production using the mentioned method.Graphic Abstract

Highlights

The Research on the extraction of value added biomaterials from biomass is one of the top most interested areas for the scientists [1]–[4]
Cellulose was extracted from cajuput twigs (CT) and sugarcane bagasse (SB) through prehydrolysis followed by soda (NaOH) pulping and elemental chlorine-free (ECF) bleaching
The remaining lignin content and hemicellulose content was higher for CT, which may need to consider by controlling prehydrolysis and pulping conditions along with bleaching conditions

Summary

Introduction

The Research on the extraction of value added biomaterials from biomass is one of the top most interested areas for the scientists [1]–[4]. The most abundant component of biomass, has been known as the essential material for the production of textile fibers, cellulose derivatives, pharmaceuticals substances, food additives, etc. Cellulose acetate (CA) or an ester of cellulose, is the most commercially used and widely applied in the industrial sectors. The main applications of CA are in the field of food packaging, textile industries, gas separator membrane, ultrafiltration membrane, coating and bioplastics [5]–[12]. CA has been applied in the military and defence area, such as for less-prone low vulnerability ammunition (LOVA) systems. CA has been reported as promising binders for LOVA gun propellant [13], [14]

Methods

Results

Conclusion