NANOFIBER PRODUCTION FROM LIQUEFIED HAZELNUT SHELL WITH THE ADDITION OF REDUCED GRAPHENE OXIDE AND POLYVINYL PYRROLIDONE

Abstract

In this study, in order to produce nanofibers from waste hazelnut shells, a lignocellulosic biomass, firstly, liquefied hazelnut shell (LHS) was obtained by liquefaction of waste hazelnut shells using phenol and some chemicals. Then, reduced graphene oxide (RGO) was produced by Hummers’ method. RGO and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) were added to LHS, in certain proportions, to form seven different LHS-RGO-PVP solutions with ethanol/dimethylformamide (EtOH/DMF). From these solutions, nanofiber surfaces were obtained by a semi-industrial electrospinning device. The morphology of the nanofibers and the properties of the electrospinning solution were investigated, and it was observed that the optimum nanofibers were obtained from 7.5% LHS/10% PVP/5.6% RGO solution by the electrospinning method. It has been determined that the conductivity is slightly reduced by the addition of RGO to the solution, the viscosity is greatly reduced, the nanofiber diameters are reduced by approximately half, and thinner nanofibers are obtained