Nanocrystalline cellulose extracted from pine wood and corncob

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biotechnology
• Sustainable Chemistry

Background:

• Agro-residues like pine wood and corncob are abundant lignocellulosic materials.
• Valorization of these residues into high-value nanomaterials is crucial for a circular economy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To extract nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) from pine wood and corncob.
• To characterize the obtained NCC microparticles.
• To evaluate their potential for polymer composite applications.

Main Methods:

• Lignocellulosic residues underwent delignification pre-treatments.
• Acid hydrolysis was employed to extract NCC.
• Spray-drying was used to obtain microparticles from NCC suspensions.

Main Results:

• NCC yields were 9.0% (pine wood) and 23.5% (corncob) relative to microcrystalline cellulose.
• Crystallinity indices were 67.8% (pine wood), 70.9% (corncob), and 79.3% (microcrystalline cellulose).
• Spray-dried microparticles demonstrated suitability for extrusion-processed polymer composites.

Conclusions:

• Pine wood and corncob are viable sources for NCC extraction.
• Yield optimization is necessary for industrial scalability.
• The derived NCC microparticles hold significant promise for advanced material applications.