Nanocrystalline Cellulose from Microcrystalline Cellulose of Date Palm Fibers as a Promising Candidate for Bio-Nanocomposites: Isolation and Characterization

Abstract

Date palm fiber (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is a natural biopolymer rich in lignocellulosic components. Its high cellulose content lends them to the extraction of tiny particles like microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC). These cellulose-derived small size particles can be used as an alternative biomaterial in wide fields of application due to their renewability and sustainability. In the present work, NCC (A) and NCC (B) were isolated from date palm MCC at 60 min and 90 min hydrolysis times, respectively. The isolated NCC product was subjected to characterization to study their properties differences. With the hydrolysis treatment, the yields of produced NCC could be attained at between 22% and 25%. The infrared-ray functional analysis also revealed the isolated NCC possessed a highly exposed cellulose compartment with minimized lignoresidues of lignin and hemicellulose. From morphology evaluation, the nanoparticles’ size was decreased gradually from NCC (A) (7.51 nm width, 139.91 nm length) to NCC (B) (4.34 nm width, 111.51 nm length) as a result of fragmentation into cellulose fibrils. The crystallinity index was found increasing from NCC (A) to NCC (B). With 90 min hydrolysis time, NCC (B) showed the highest crystallinity index of 71% due to its great cellulose rigidity. For thermal analysis, NCC (B) also exhibited stable heat resistance, in associating with its highly crystalline cellulose structure. In conclusion, the NCC isolated from date palm MCC would be a promising biomaterial for various applications such as biomedical and food packaging applications.

Chemical Composition and Extraction of Micro Crystalline Cellulose from Outer Skin Isolated Coffee Husk

“…Te absorption in the range of 3600-3100 cm − 1 is associated to the O-H stretching vibration and hydrogen bonds of the hydroxyl groups. Te absorption at 2920 cm − 1 is a typical characteristic of the C-H stretching frequency in cellulose [57]. Furthermore, typical FTIR spectra of AT sample shown in Figure 4 exhibits the peaks observed at 1516 cm − 1 which are associated to aromatic ring stretching frequencies of lignin [59].…”

“…Additional sign of hemicellulose and lignin elimination through the treatment is the substantial reduction in the absorption of the small spectra at 1220 cm − 1 which is associated to the C-O stretching of the aryl group in hemicellulose and lignin. A small spectra exhibited at 1430 cm − 1 can be associated to the CH 2 symmetric bending of cellulose [57]. Te absorption in the range of 3600-3100 cm − 1 is associated to the O-H stretching vibration and hydrogen bonds of the hydroxyl groups.…”

Isolation and Characterization of Cellulose Nanocrystals from Date Palm Waste

“… 6 Additionally, CNC’s large specific surface area (hundreds of m 2 /g), 7 high elasticity modulus (approximately 150 GPa), 8 ultralightweight (1.6 g/cm 3 ), 9 biodegradability, 10 and biocompatibility 11 are the main factors that encourage its use as a reinforcement agent in composite manufacturing. Additionally, CNC can be used to prepare barrier films, 12 shape-memory polymers, 13 bionanocomposites, 14 drug-delivery materials, 15 photonic crystals, 16 biomedical devices, 17 filaments, 18 aerogels, 19 hydrogels, 20 fuel cells, 21 and three-dimensional (3D) printing 22 as well as for wastewater treatment 23 and producing agricultural products, 24 adsorbents, 25 and materials for cultural heritage. 26 The surface chemistry of cellulose derivates can further be modified to use in many other applications.…”

Modified Cellulose Proton-Exchange Membranes for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

“…High Young’s modulus and tensile strength are features of CNC with nanosized diameters of 1–100 nm and lengths of 10–1000 nm [ 124 ]. MCC and CNC possess significant properties such as a high aspect ratio, large surface area, high water uptake, biodegradability, biocompatibility, and enhanced mechanical and barrier properties [ 127 , 128 , 129 ]. Therefore, MCC and CNC have been used to develop PEM for fuel cell applications.…”