Abstract:
Carpenter waste has been used as a raw material for synthesizing microcrystal line cellulose through various chemical pre-treatment process sequences.
Carpenter waste treated with 10% (w/v) sodium hydroxide followed by various
concentration of sodium chlorite (0.5%, 0.7%, and 1.0%) treatment has resulted
in substantial loss in weight. The synthesized microcrystalline cellulose has
been characterized by different instrumental analysis. FT-IR data showed the
successful removal of hemicellulose and lignin from the carpenter waste after
various chemical treatments. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction analysis is done to
measure the crystallinity index and crystal size of the synthesized microcrystal line cellulose. The microcrystalline cellulose produced under different concen trations of sodium chlorite exhibits crystallinity index in the range of 67.56 to
68.85 and calculated average crystal size within the range of 6.47–6.60 nm. The
calculated average particle size of microcrystalline cellulose ranges from 96.42
to 437.83 nm depending on the treatment conditions. Higher concentration of
sodium chlorite treatment has led to lowering the particle size. Scanning
Electron Microscopic image of microcrystalline cellulose shows curled and soft flat shaped with rough pits and fibrillated network structure. Field Emission
Scanning Electron Microscopic analysis reveals the cylindrical rod-shaped
morphology and porous structure of the synthesized microcrystalline cellulose
from carpenter waste.
