Agave Tequilana Weber Var Research Articles

Influence of Chemical, Morphological, Spectroscopic and Calorimetric Properties of Agroindustrial Cellulose Wastes on Drainage Behavior in Stone Mastic Asphalt Mixtures.

New asphalt mixtures have been improved by using fibers (polypropylene, polyester, asbestos, carbon, glass, nylon, lignin, coconut, sisal, recycled rubber, PET, wood, bamboo, and cellulose), reducing the temperature and compaction energy for their collocation, minimizing the impact on the environment, increasing the tenacity and resistance to cracking of hot mix asphalt (HMA), preventing asphalt drainage in a Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA). Hence, this paper aims to evaluate the influence of the chemical (lignin content, ash, viscosity, degree of polymerization, and elemental analysis), morphological (SEM), spectroscopic (FTIR-ATR and XRD), and calorimetric (ATG and DSC) properties of celluloses from bagasse Agave tequilana Weber var. Azul (ABP), corrugated paperboard (CPB) and commercial cellulose fiber (CC) as Schellenberg drainage (D) inhibitors of the SMA. The ABP was obtained through a chemical process by alkaline cooking, while CPB by a mechanical refining process. The chemical, morphological, spectroscopic, and calorimetric properties were similar among the analyzed celluloses, but CPB and ABP cellulose are excellent alternatives to CC cellulose for inhibiting drainage. However, CPB is the most effective at low concentrations. This is attributed to its morphology, which includes roughness, waviness, filament length, orientation, and diameter, as well as its lignin content and crystallinity.

Agave Wilt Susceptibility by Reduction of Free Hexoses in Root Tissue of Agave tequilana Weber var. azul Commercial Plants in the Fructan Accumulation Process.

Agave tequilana stems store fructan polymers, the main carbon source for tequila production. This crop takes six or more years for industrial maturity. In conducive conditions, agave wilt disease increases the incidence of dead plants after the fourth year. Plant susceptibility induced for limited photosynthates for defense is recognized in many crops and is known as "sink-induced loss of resistance". To establish whether A. tequilana is more prone to agave wilt as it ages, because the reduction of water-soluble carbohydrates in roots, as a consequence of greater assembly of highly polymerized fructans, were quantified roots sucrose, fructose, and glucose, as well as fructans in stems of agave plants of different ages. The damage induced by inoculation with Fusarium solani or F. oxysporum in the roots or xylem bundles, respectively, was recorded. As the agave plant accumulated fructans in the stem as the main sink, the amount of these hexoses diminished in the roots of older plants, and root rot severity increased when plants were inoculated with F. solani, as evidence of more susceptibility. This knowledge could help to structure disease management that reduces the dispersion of agave wilt, dead plants, and economic losses at the end of agave's long crop cycle.

PGPB Consortium Formulation to Increase Fermentable Sugar in Agave tequilana Weber var. Blue: A Study in the Field.

Agave tequilana Weber var. Blue is used as the primary raw material in tequila production due to its fructans (inulin) content. This study evaluates the formulation of a plant-growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) consortium (Pseudomonas sp. and Shimwellia sp.) to increase sugars in A. tequilana under field conditions. A total of three doses were tested: low (5 L ha-1), medium (10 L ha-1), and high (15 L ha-1), with a cellular density of 1 × 108 CFU mL-1 and one control treatment (without application). Total reducing sugars (TRS), inulin, sucrose, glucose, fructose, and plant growth were measured in agave plants aged 4-5 years at 0 (T0), 3 (T3), 6 (T6), and 12 (T12) months. Yield was recorded at T12. The TRS increased by 3%, and inulin by 5.3% in the high-dose treatment compared to the control at T12. Additionally, a low content of sucrose, glucose, and fructose (approximately 1%) was detected. At T12, the weight of agave heads increased by 31.2% in the medium dose and 22.3% in the high dose compared to the control. The high dose provided a higher inulin content. The A. tequilana plants were five years old and exhibited growth comparable to the standards for 6-7-year-old plants. This study demonstrates a sustainable strategy for tequila production, optimizing the use of natural resources and enhancing industry performance through increased sugar content and yield.

EVALUATION OF THE SUSTAINABILITY OF TWO TYPES OF Agave tequilana Weber var. blue AGROECOSYSTEMS IN TEQUILA, JALISCO

Tequila is an alcoholic beverage that must be produced exclusively from the species Agave tequilana Weber var. azul (blue) and only in regions with certification of origin within Mexico. The “Tequila Boom” began in 1992, making it a popular beverage in several countries, including Mexico. This boosted exports, production, and the expansion of blue agave plantation areas, which had negative social, economic, and environmental consequences in producing regions and for agave farmers. The aim of the study was to evaluate the degree of sustainability of the Agave tequilana crop in two types of agroecosystems: monoculture and polyculture. The research hypothesis was that the A. tequilana polyculture agroecosystem is more sustainable than monoculture. A random sample of agave farmers from the municipality of Tequila, Jalisco, was surveyed and distributed equally: 25 agave farmers who practice monoculture and 25 who practice polyculture. The methodology was based on and adapted from the Framework for the Evaluation of the Natural Resource Management Systems incorporating Sustainability Indices (MESMIS), which was used to create a Composite Sustainability Indicator for A. tequilana (ICSAT) to compare both agroecosystems. The results show that polyculture is more sustainable than monoculture in 13 of the 15 indicators evaluated. Polyculture displayed a sustainability level of 77.06 % in the Composite Sustainability Indicator, whereas monoculture had 58.43 %. Our conclusion is that the evaluation of sustainability helped to determine that the Agave tequilana polyculture agroecosystem is more sustainable than monoculture.

USE OF REAL OPTIONS TO EVALUATE THE PROFITABILITY OF BIOGAS PRODUCTION FROM STILLAGE IN THE TEQUILA INDUSTRY

In Mexico, the tequila industry is the second most important economic activity within the alcoholic beverage industry, after the beer industry. Tequila vinasse is wastewater with a high organic load produced during the distillation of the fermented must of the blue agave (Agave tequilana Weber var. azul), which has a great impact on soils and water bodies in the tequila region. On the other hand, the decrease in fuel reserves causes instability in hydrocarbon prices, which makes it necessary to implement alternative fuel methods such as biogas. In this sense, it has recently been pointed out that the anaerobic digestion process is the most suitable for the treatment of tequila vinasse since it allows the removal of contaminating organic matter, together with the production of biogas that can be used in situ in the tequila industry. In this study, the financial feasibility of the production of biogas for self-consumption from tequila vinasse was calculated with the values achieved from a pilot system composed of a packed bed reactor (PBR) with technological and economic advantages to treat this waste. Profitability was evaluated over a 10-year production horizon (net present value $1 569 001) and was complemented with the Real Options methodology, taking into account price volatility and the option to expand. The results showed that the project is profitable with the 42.85 % biogas production expansion option. It is concluded that biogas production is financially feasible and it is possible to increase the profitability of the system by $6 325 109 if production is expanded.

Thermoplastic Starch Biocomposite Films Reinforced with Nanocellulose from Agave tequilana Weber var. Azul Bagasse.

In this work, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), bleached cellulose nanofibers (bCNFs), and unbleached cellulose nanofibers (ubCNFs) isolated by acid hydrolysis from Agave tequilana Weber var. Azul bagasse, an agro-waste from the tequila industry, were used as reinforcements in a thermoplastic starch matrix to obtain environmentally friendly materials that can substitute contaminant polymers. A robust characterization of starting materials and biocomposites was carried out. Biocomposite mechanical, thermal, and antibacterial properties were evaluated, as well as color, crystallinity, morphology, rugosity, lateral texture, electrical conductivity, chemical identity, solubility, and water vapor permeability. Pulp fibers and nanocelluloses were analyzed via SEM, TEM, and AFM. The water vapor permeability (WVP) decreased by up to 20.69% with the presence of CNCs. The solubility decreases with the presence of CNFs and CNCs. The addition of CNCs and CNFs increased the tensile strength and Young's modulus and decreased the elongation at break. Biocomposites prepared with ubCNF showed the best tensile mechanical properties due to a better adhesion with the matrix. Images of bCNF-based biocomposites demonstrated that bCNFs are good reinforcing agents as the fibers were dispersed within the starch film and embedded within the matrix. Roughness increased with CNF content and decreased with CNC content. Films with CNCs did not show bacterial growth for Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. This study offers a new theoretical basis since it demonstrates that different proportions of bleached or unbleached nanofibers and nanocrystals can improve the properties of starch films.

Conservation genomics of Agave tequilana Weber var. azul: Unexpected high levels of genomic diversity and excess of heterozygotes in the tequila agave from Jalisco, Mexico.

Conservation genomics of Agave tequilana Weber var. azul: Unexpected high levels of genomic diversity and excess of heterozygotes in the tequila agave from Jalisco, Mexico.

Conservation genomics of Agave tequilana Weber var. azul: low genetic differentiation and heterozygote excess in the tequila agave from Jalisco, Mexico

Conservation genomics of Agave tequilana Weber var. azul: low genetic differentiation and heterozygote excess in the tequila agave from Jalisco, Mexico

Conservation genomics of Agave tequilana Weber var. azul: low genetic differentiation and heterozygote excess in the tequila agave from Jalisco, Mexico.

Genetic diversity is fundamental for the survival of species. In particular, in a climate change scenario, it is crucial that populations maintain genetic diversity so they can adapt to novel environmental conditions. Genetic diversity in wild agaves is usually high, with low genetic differentiation among populations, in part maintained by the agave pollinators such as the nectarivorous bats. In cultivated agaves, patterns of genetic diversity vary according to the intensity of use, management, and domestication stage. In Agave tequilana Weber var. azul (A. tequilana thereafter), the plant used for tequila production, clonal propagation has been strongly encouraged. These practices may lead to a reduction in genetic diversity. We studied the diversity patterns with genome-wide SNPs, using restriction site associated DNA sequencing in cultivated samples of A. tequilana from three sites of Jalisco, Mexico. For one locality, seeds were collected and germinated in a greenhouse. We compared the genomic diversity, levels of inbreeding, genetic differentiation, and connectivity among studied sites and between adults and juvenile plants. Agave tequilana presented a genomic diversity of HT = 0.12. The observed heterozygosity was higher than the expected heterozygosity. Adults were more heterozygous than juveniles. This could be a consequence of heterosis or hybrid vigor. We found a shallow genetic structure (average paired FST = 0.0044). In the analysis of recent gene flow, we estimated an average migration rate among the different populations of m = 0.25. In particular, we found a population that was the primary source of gene flow and had greater genomic diversity (HE and HO ), so we propose that this population should continue to be monitored as a potential genetic reservoir. Our results may be the consequence of more traditional management in the studied specific region of Jalisco. Also, the exchange of seeds or propagules by producers and the existence of gene flow due to occasional sexual reproduction may play an important role in maintaining diversity in A. tequilana. For populations to resist pests, to continue evolving and reduce their risk of extinction under a climate change scenario, it is necessary to maintain genetic diversity. Under this premise we encourage to continue acting in conservation programs for this species and its pollinators.

Agave americana: Characteristics and Potential Breeding Priorities.

Agave americana L. is one of many Agave species that could be developed for the production of valuable agricultural products. Although all species in this genus use Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) and most have drought and heat tolerance, Agave americana also has the combined traits of high yield and cold tolerance. This review highlights key characteristics of Agave americana that make it an exceptional novel crop for fiber, sweeteners, bioproducts, and bioethanol with resilient traits for changing climate conditions. Then, it proposes potential directions for breeding that will support production in semi-arid climates. With selection and breeding, yields of 16 Mg ha−1 y−1 may be achieved. Current field observations, with no crop improvement, indicate ~9 Mg ha−1 is the maximum yield, and in arid regions, a yield of ~3 Mg ha−1 y−1 is observed. It may be beneficial to breed for a shorter time to flowering, as has been successful for Agave tequilana Weber var. azul, so that further breeding goals are achievable in a decadal timespan. Specific trait selection during breeding will depend on whether fiber or sugar yields are the desired products at a given location. Even without breeding, varieties of Agave americana are climate resilient alternatives for some current commodity crops.

Effect of Ionic Liquids in the Elaboration of Nanofibers of Cellulose Bagasse from Agave tequilana Weber var. azul by Electrospinning Technique.

The objective of this paper was to report the effect of ionic liquids (ILs) in the elaboration of nanofibers of cellulose bagasse from Agave tequilana Weber var. azul by the electrospinning method. The ILs used were 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BMIMCl), and DMSO was added as co-solvent. To observe the effect of ILs, this solvent was compared with the organic solvent TriFluorAcetic acid (TFA). The nanofibers were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray, Fourier transform-infrared using attenuated total reflection (FTIR-ATR) spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). TEM showed different diameters (ranging from 35 to 76 nm) of cellulose nanofibers with ILs (CN ILs). According to X-ray diffraction, a notable decrease of the crystalline structure of cellulose treated with ILs was observed, while FTIR-ATR showed two bands that exhibit the physical interaction between cellulose nanofibers and ILs. TGA revealed that CN ILs exhibit enhanced thermal properties due to low or null cellulose crystallinity. CN ILs showed better characteristics in all analyses than nanofibers elaborated with TFA organic solvent. Therefore, CN ILs provide new alternatives for cellulose bagasse. Due to their small particle size, CN ILs could have several applications, including in food, pharmaceutical, textile, and material areas, among others.

Physical Properties and Prebiotic Activities (Lactobacillus spp.) of Gelatine-Based Gels Formulated with Agave Fructans and Agave Syrups as Sucrose and Glucose Substitutes.

This research developed model foods of gelatine-based gels, where carbohydrates from Agave tequilana Weber var. Azul (agave syrups or/and agave fructans) were incorporated into gel formulations as healthy sucrose and glucose substitutes. The sugars (sucrose and glucose) were substituted by agave carbohydrates (agave syrups and agave fructans), obtaining the subsequent gel formulations: 100% agave syrup (F2 gel), 100% agave fructan (F3 gel), and 50% agave syrup–50% agave fructan (F4 gel). The unsubstituted gel formulation was used as a control (F1 gel). The prebiotic activities, physical properties, thermal stability (HP-TLC), and texture of gelatine-based gels were evaluated. The gel formulations showed translucent appearances with approximately 36 g/100 g of water and water activities values between 0.823 and 0.929. The HP-TLC analysis validated that agave fructans did not hydrolyse during the thermal process of gels production. Gels produced with agave syrup and agave fructan (F2-F4 gels) provided higher hardness, gumminess, and springiness values (p < 0.05) than those produced with glucose and sucrose (F1 gel). Gelatine-based gel formulations displayed prebiotic activities correlated to the ability of Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus paracasei, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus to use agave carbohydrates as carbon sources. Based on the prebiotic effect and physical and textural properties, the F2 and F4 gel formulations displayed the best techno-functional properties to produce gel soft candies.

Aplicación de la Espectroscopía Infrarroja por Transformada de Fourier (FTIR) en combinación con la Reflectancia Total Atenuada (ATR) para un análisis rápido del proceso de producción de tequila

The manufacturing process of tequila made of Agave tequilana Weber var. azul consists of several important process stages such as milling, cooking, fermentation, distillation, and aging. The purpose of this contribution was to characterize five of the most important stages of the tequila production process in a pilot plant by using FTIR-ATR spectroscopy. The results showed that FTIR-ATR spectra of raw juices in the range 4000 and 700 cm-1, were mostly composed of absorption peaks associated with water and fructose. The spectra of cooked juices showed the thermal hydrolysis of the fructans to fructose in the interval between 1200 and 800 cm-1. The FTIR-ATR spectra of the samples fermented showed a gradual sequence transforming fructose peaks to ethanol peaks during the interval time from 0 to 48 h at 35°C. The spectra obtained from the distillation showed that the intensity of the peaks was a function of the concentration of ethanol in the product distillates. The evolution of the aging of the “tequila blanco” in an oak barrel was monitored for 60 days. The results showed that the region between 1300 and 900 cm-1 of the FTIR-ATR spectra was associated with the aging process in the oak barrel.

Agave Fructans in Oaxaca's Emblematic Specimens: Agave angustifolia Haw. and Agave potatorum Zucc.

Despite the recognition of Agave tequilana Weber var. Azul as raw material for producing tequila and obtaining prebiotics, there are other highly relevant Agave species in Mexico. Oaxaca contains a startlingly diverse range of Agave species; Agave angustifolia Haw. and Agave potatorum Zucc. are two classic specimens with great commercial potential. In this study, we examined the fructan fluctuation in these two species during their lifetime in the field (from 1 to 6 years old). First, we analyzed their morphological diversity based on vegetative characteristics. Subsequently, fructan extracts were analyzed by TLC, FT-IR, and HPAEC-PAD to identify carbohydrates. Multivariate analyses of the morphological parameters indicated a morphological divergence between the two species. Furthermore, we found that the concentration of simple carbohydrates and fructans, as well as the fructan DP, changed during plant development. Glucose, fructose, and fructooligosaccharides (FOS) were more abundant in A. potatorum, while A. angustifolia showed a greater amount of sucrose and fructans with a high DP. Fructan DP heatmaps were constructed using HPAEC-PAD profiles—the heatmaps were very helpful for establishing an easy correlation between age and the carbohydrate types present in the fructan extracts. This study is an important contribution to the agave fructan knowledge of the Mexican agave diversity.

Optimization of gluten-free muffin formulation with agavin-type fructans as fat and sucrose replacer using response surface methodology

Reducing the content of sucrose and fat in gluten-free products by means of replacers, such as agavin-type fructans (ATF), represents a challenge for the bakery industry, which is still developing products to satisfy the needs of celiac consumers. The aim of this work was to optimize the use of ATF from Agave tequilana Weber var. azul as fat and sucrose replacer in a gluten-free muffin formulation. Using response surface methodology, we obtained two optimal values, one for sucrose replacement (SR) and another one for fat replacement (FR) by ATF. These yielded 28% SR and 22% FR, respectively. SR and FR muffins showed significantly lower height, darker crumb color, slightly yellow crust and crumb, and larger cell area than control. Additionally, FR muffins showed darker crust color while SR muffins showed brighter crust as well as less hardness and springiness. However, this difference was not noticed by the sensory panel. On the other hand, the chemical composition revealed a carbohydrate and fat reduction by 11.5% and 2% in SR and FR product, respectively, in comparison to the control. Therefore, ATF have proven to be a potential functional ingredient to be employed in the development of low-fat and low-sucrose gluten-free bakery products.

Effect of Biosynthesized Silver Nanoparticles on the Properties of Chemically Modified Agave tequilana Weber var. Azul Fibers

Agave tequilana Weber var. azul fibers (ATF) are widely used as a reinforcement material despite their polarity makes them incompatible with hydrophobic matrices. Consequently, ATF are commonly modified employing different chemical processes (e.g., mercerization and coupling agents) to change their surface characteristics to improve the interface between the fibers and the polymeric matrix. Nevertheless, these treatments could damage the fibers during the process, negatively affecting their natural properties. The use of nanotechnology to repair this natural material could help to restore its intrinsic properties and give it new ones as antibacterial activity. In this work, chemically treated ATF were used as templates for the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using a natural extract obtained from Agave tequilana Weber var. azul leaves (ATL) as reducing agent. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy images as well as dynamic light scattering results indicate that stable nanometric particles were successfully synthesized on all fibers. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction results confirm the composition of the nanoparticles. Tensile tests indicate that AgNPs improved the mechanical properties of fibers previously mercerized and treated with maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene as coupling agent. Additionally, an antibacterial effect against S. enterica was conferred to ATF due to the presence of AgNPs.

Optimization of the Obtaining of Cellulose Nanocrystals from Agave tequilana Weber Var. Azul Bagasse by Acid Hydrolysis.

A multilevel factorial design of 23 with 12 experiments was developed for the preparation of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) from Agave tequilana Weber var. Azul bagasse, an agro-industrial waste from tequila production. The studied parameters were acid type (H2SO4 and HCl), acid concentration (60 and 65 wt% for H2SO4, 2 and 8N for HCl) temperature (40 and 60 °C for H2SO4, 50 and 90 °C for HCl), and hydrolysis time (40, 55 and 70 min for H2SO4; and 30, 115 and 200 min for HCl). The obtained CNC were physical and chemically characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray diffraction (XDR) techniques. The maximum CNC yield was 90 and 96% for HCL and H2SO4, respectively, and the crystallinity values ranged from 88–91%. The size and morphology of A. tequilana CNC strongly depends on the acid type and hydrolysis time. The shortest CNC obtained with H2SO4 (65 wt%, 40 °C, and 70 min) had a length of 137 ± 68 nm, width 33 ± 7 nm, and height 9.1 nm, whereas the shortest CNC obtained with HCl (2 N, 50 °C and 30 min) had a length of 216 ± 73 nm, width 69 ± 17 nm, and height 8.9 nm. In general, the obtained CNC had an ellipsoidal shape, whereas CNC prepared from H2SO4 were shorter and thinner than those obtained with HCl. The total sulfate group content of CNC obtained with H2SO4 increased with time, temperature, and acid concentration, exhibiting an exponential behavior of .

Localization and Composition of Fructans in Stem and Rhizome of Agave tequilana Weber var. azul.

Methodology combining mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) with ion mobility separation (IMS) has emerged as a biological imaging technique due to its versatility, sensitivity and label-free approach. This technique has been shown to separate isomeric compounds such as lipids, amino acids, carboxylic acids and carbohydrates. This report describes mass spectrometry imaging in combination with traveling-wave ion mobility separation and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI). Positive ionization mode was used to locate fructans on tissue printed sections of Agave rhizome and stem tissue and distinguished fructan isoforms. Here we show the location of fructans ranging from DP3 to DP17 to be differentially abundant across the stem tissue and for the first time, experimental collision cross sections of endogenous fructan structures have been collected, revealing at least two isoforms for fructans of DP4, DP5, DP6, DP7, DP8, DP10, and DP11. This demonstrates that complex fructans such as agavins can be located and their isoforms resolved using a combination of MALDI, IMS, and MSI, without the need for extraction or derivatization. Use of this methodology uncovered patterns of fructan localization consistent with functional differences where higher DP fructans are found toward the central section of the stem supporting a role in long term carbohydrate storage whereas lower DP fructans are concentrated in the highly vascularized central core of rhizomes supporting a role in mobilization of carbohydrates from the mother plant to developing offsets. Tissue specific patterns of expression of genes encoding enzymes involved in fructan metabolism are consistent with fructan structures and localization.

Ethanol Production from Enzymatic Hydrolysates Optimized of Agave tequilana Weber var. azul and Agave karwinskii bagasses

The use of biofuels obtained from lignocellulosic materials is a technology that offers great potential for their production in the future. Agave bagasse is one of the most common wastes produced in Mexico through the Syrup, Tequila, and Mezcal industry. In particular, Tequila and Mezcal are one of the largest alcoholic beverages in the country and thousands of tons of this waste are produced annually. Therefore, agave bagasse is a promising alternative in Mexico to obtain second-generation bioethanol (2G). In this work, the use of enzymatic hydrolysates obtained by an alkaline pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis optimized using Agave tequilana Weber var. azul bagasse (AT) and Agave karwinskii bagasse (AK) was evaluated for ethanol production. For this, the optimization design of alkaline pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis was carried out using a Box-Behnken design. Both hydrolysates were fermented using Saccharomyces cerevisiae ITV01 yeast. The results showed that the best lignin reduction in the alkaline pretreatment was 77.6 and 84.29% utilizing AT and AK, respectively. Furthermore, a glucose concentration of 100.06–98.08 and 64.03–60.0 g/L was found in the enzymatic hydrolysis (AT and AK, respectively), reaching in the fermentation step a yield of 0.47 and 0.46 g/g, volumetric productivity of 1.97 and 1.14 g/L/h and a fermentation efficiency of 93.1 and 90.4% using AT and AK, respectively. These results are interesting to use agave bagasse for ethanol production in Mexico as an alternative to give added value and take advantage of its availability.

Entangled cellulose nanofibrils/nanosheets derived from native mexican agave for lead(II) ion removal

Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) produced from waste lignocellulosic biomass have emerged as a sustainable source material for high value-added applications. In the current study, previously unreported entangled cellulose nanofibril and nanosheet (CNF/CNS) were obtained using Agave Tequilana Weber var. Azul leaves by means of a microfluidization process. These nanomaterials were investigated as potential biosorbents of Pb2+, for which three adsorption mechanisms were identified by XPS. At low initial concentrations of Pb2+ (C0 < 100 ppm), the adsorption-mechanism is governed by electrostatic interactions between carboxylate groups and Pb2+; meanwhile, at (C0 = 1000 ppm) mono and bi-dentate complexes dominate the adsorption-mechanism. Finally, when 110 < C0 < 1000 ppm, both mechanisms co-exist. The maximum adsorption capacity was 43.55 mg/g, according to the Langmuir model, while CNF/CNS showed the characteristic diffraction peaks of cellulose type II. Our results highlight the high potential of these novel CNF/CNS biosorbents in the treatment of wastewater contaminated with toxic metals and afford new insights on adsorption mechanisms.