Dual-Route Extraction and Characterization of Cellulose From Cow Dung: Green Natural Microbial Extraction and...

Cow dung is a low-cost lignocellulosic biomass generated in large quantities across India, yet remains underutilized and contributes to environmental pollution when improperly managed. In this study, cellulose was isolated from cow dung using two different approaches a green, microbially-assisted natural extraction process under dark conditions with mild chemical uses, and a chemically driven Soxhlet-assisted method employing alkali oxidative pretreatment. The physicochemical characteristics of the isolated cellulose were examined using the Van Soest compositional protocol, FTIR spectroscopy, UV-Vis analysis, CHNS elemental profiling, and SEM imaging. The Soxhlet route produced a cellulose yield of 3.65% ± 0.2%, with purity of 28.68% cellulose and 3.68% lignin, whereas the natural method resulted in a yield of 3.55% ± 0.3%, with purity of 26.31% cellulose and 8.9% lignin. Soxhlet extraction enabled more effective delignification and improved fiber defibrillation, while the natural method, despite of lower lignin removal rate, preserved the structural integrity of the cellulose and offered substantial sustainability advantages by reducing chemical consumption and energy requirements. These findings highlight cow dung as a viable renewable feedstock for cellulose-based biomaterials and demonstrate that low-resource, environmentally benign extraction strategies can support decentralized and rural circular bio-economy initiatives.