Preparation and Characterization of an Amino-functionalized α-Cellulose from Pineapple [Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.] Crown Leaves

Abstract

Amino-functionalized α-cellulose from pineapple [Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.] crown leaves (PCLs) was prepared using 3-(aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) to explore the diverse utilization of PCL. It was then characterized using optical microscopy, attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR FTIR), ninhydrin test, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The amino-functionalization was confirmed by the appearance of disintegrated primary layers and balloons in the 400x and 1000x optical micrographs, higher lateral order index (LOI), higher total crystallinity index (TCI), higher energy of H-bonds (EH) at 3432 cm–1, longer radius of H-bonds (R) at 3432 cm–1, higher depolymerization temperature (Tm(DP)), and higher enthalpy of dehydration (ΔdehydrationH) of α-cellulose-APTES as compared to α-cellulose, and the positive reaction of α-cellulose-APTES with ninhydrin. The results showed that the prepared α-cellulose-APTES have notable properties to be used in a variety of adsorbent and enzyme-immobilization applications.