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Cellulose content was estimated from Tamarix aphylla, Juncus rigidus, and Thespesia populnea growing in saline soil at salt farm experimental plot of Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI), Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India. Cellulose was extracted from the plant samples by the treatment of NaClO 2 followed by NaOH, HCl, and H 2 O 2. Extracted cellulose samples were fractionated to α-cellulose and β-cellulose. Tamarix aphylla was subject to different treatments, and among all the treatments the highest cellulose fibre was extracted from T1 (3.0% NaClO 2 followed by 17.5% NaOH, 4.0% HCl) with 33% α-cellulose having 61% crystallinity. Maximum (44.0%) crude cellulose (3.5% NaClO 2 followed by 2.0% NaOH, 5.0% HCl, 17.5% NaOH) was obtained from J2 treatment (J. rigidus) with 58.7% crystallinity, 33% α-cellulose with 62% crystallinity and TP3 (4.0% NaClO 2 followed by 4.0% NaOH, 5.5% HCl, 17.5% NaOH) was best for T. populnea with 39% highest crude cellulose with 64.4% crystallinity, 30% α-cellulose with 55% crystallinity. The cellulose related peaks were noted in XRD and FTIR spectra; lignin and hemicellulose related peaks were absent. This confirms the removal of lignin and hemicellulose from the isolated product. All the three halophytes growing in saline soil were found good source of cellulose. However, T. aphylla contain highest cellulose and α-cellulose with highest crystallinity as compared to J. rigidus, and T. populnea.

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