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Published on: June 17, 2014
Carboxymethyl cellulose from coconut fiber via sequential pretreatment
Fabrícia Vieira1, Hortência E P Santana1, Osiris Ashton Vital Brazil2
1RENORBIO - Northeastern Biotechnology Network, Federal University of Sergipe, 49107-230, São Cristóvão, SE, Brazil.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
|July 27, 2026
Summary
This study developed a sequential pretreatment method to enhance coconut fiber for carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) production. The process effectively removed hemicelluloses and lignin, significantly increasing cellulose content for high-quality CMC.
Area of Science:
- Biomass Valorization
- Polymer Chemistry
- Sustainable Materials
Background:
- Coconut fiber's recalcitrance and high lignin content hinder carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) synthesis.
- Effective pretreatment is crucial for utilizing lignocellulosic biomass in chemical production.
Purpose of the Study:
- To valorize coconut lignocellulosic biomass for CMC production using sequential pretreatments.
- To optimize the removal of hemicelluloses and lignin while preserving cellulose integrity.
Main Methods:
- Sequential pretreatment: Autohydrolysis, Alkaline Extraction, and Organosolv (AH-AE-OG).
- Chemical analysis to determine cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin content.
- Physicochemical characterization using TGA, FTIR, and SEM.
Main Results:
- Hemicellulose content reduced from 16.88% to 0.59%.
- Cellulose content increased from 42.09% to 86.13% after pretreatment and bleaching.
- Kappa number decreased from 44.20 to 6.77, indicating significant lignin removal.
- Achieved a CMC yield of 38.05% with validated cellulose presence and CMC fiber formation.
Conclusions:
- The sequential AH-AE-OG pretreatment effectively enhances coconut fiber for high-quality cellulosic pulp production.
- This method facilitates improved conversion of coconut fiber into CMC.
- The developed pretreatment process offers an innovative approach to biomass valorization for advanced material synthesis.
