The Effects of the Blending Condition on the Morphology, Crystallinity, and Thermal Stability of Cellulose Microfibers Obtained from Bagasse

Romi Sukmawan; Lestari Hetalesi Saputri; Rochmadi Rochmadi; Heru Santoso Budi Rochardjo

doi:10.22146/ijc.31051

The Effects of the Blending Condition on the Morphology, Crystallinity, and Thermal Stability of Cellulose Microfibers Obtained from Bagasse

https://doi.org/10.22146/ijc.31051

Romi Sukmawan^(1*), Lestari Hetalesi Saputri⁽²⁾, Rochmadi Rochmadi⁽³⁾, Heru Santoso Budi Rochardjo⁽⁴⁾

(1) Department of Mechanical Engineering, Politeknik Lembaga Pendidikan Perkebunan, Jl. LPP 1 A, Balapan, Yogyakarta 11840, Indonesia
(2) Department of Chemical Engineering, Politeknik Lembaga Pendidikan Perkebunan, Jl. LPP 1 A, Balapan, Yogyakarta 11840, Indonesia
(3) Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Jl. Grafika No. 2, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia
(4) Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Jl. Grafika No. 2, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia
(*) Corresponding Author

Abstract

In this study, cellulose microfibers were isolated from bagasse fibers in three stages. Initially, the fibers were treated with 5 wt.% NaOH solution followed by bleaching with 5 wt.% H₂O₂ in an alkali condition (pH 11) to remove hemicelluloses and lignin. Whole cellulosic fibers were obtained by mechanically separating the fibers using a modified kitchen blender to produce cellulose microfibers. Morphological (Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)) and structural analysis of the treated fiber was performed using Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). Morphological characterization identified that the diameter of the fibers varied between 20 nm to 20 µm and the FTIR analysis demonstrated that the treatments resulted in the gradual removal of lignin and hemicelluloses from the fiber. Furthermore, the XRD studies revealed that the combination of the chemical and mechanical treatment is an effective way to increase purity of cellulose (removal of amorphous lignin and hemicellulose) and break down the microfiber into shorter crystalline parts with higher crystallinity (77.25%) than raw bagasse (40.54%). Accordingly, changing the agitation time revealed that the cellulose crystallite size in the sample varied slightly with agitation time by using a blender (3.35 nm). Finally, the higher crystallinity and crystallite size improved the thermal stability of the cellulose microfiber confirming their suitability in the manufacturing biomaterial composites.

Keywords

bagasse; cellulose microfibers; kitchen blender; agitation; biomaterial composites

Full Text:

Full Text PDF

References

[1] Varshney, V.K., and Naithani, S., 2011, “Chemical Functionalization of Cellulose Derived from Nonconventional Sources” in Cellulose Fibers: Bio- and Nano- Polymer Composite, Kalia, S., Kaith, B.S., and Kaur, I. (Eds.), Springer, Berlin, 43–60.

[2] Wahyuningsih, K., Iriani, E.S., and Fahma, F., 2016, Utilization of cellulose from pineapple leaf fibers as nanofiller in polyvinyl alcohol-based film, Indones. J. Chem., 16 (2), 181–189.

[3] Nechyporchuk, O., Belgacem, M.N., and Bras, J., 2016, Production of cellulose nanofibrils: A review of recent advances, Ind. Crops Prod., 93, 2–25.

[4] Uetani, K., and Yano, H., 2011, Nanofibrillation of wood pulp using a high-speed blender, Biomacromolecules, 12 (2), 348–353.

[5] Chaker, A., Alila, S., Mutjé, P., Vilar, M.R., and Boufi, S., 2013, Key role of the hemicellulose content and the cell morphology on the nanofibrillation effectiveness of cellulose pulps, Cellulose, 20 (6), 2863–2875.

[6] Jiang, F., and Hsieh, Y.L., 2013, Chemically and mechanically isolated nanocellulose and their self-assembled structures, Carbohydr. Polym., 95 (1), 32–40.

[7] Nakagaito, A.N., Ikenaga, K., and Takagi, H., 2015, Cellulose nanofibre extraction from grass by a modified kitchen blender, Mod. Phys. Lett. B, 29, 1540039.

[8] Segal, L., Creely, J.J., Martin, A.E., and Conrad, C.M., 1959, An empirical method for estimating the degree of crystallinity of native cellulose using the X-ray diffractometer, Text. Res. J., 29 (10), 786–794.

[9] Post, B., 1971, X-ray diffraction methods in polymer science, J. Polym. Sci., Part C: Polym. Lett., 9 (8), 635–636.

[10] Joonobi, M., Harun, J., Shakeri, A., Misra, M., and Osman, K., 2009, Chemical composition, crystallinity and thermal degradation of bleached and unbleached Kenaf bast (Hibiscus cannabinus) pulp and nanofibres, BioResources, 4 (2), 626–639.

[11] Mothé, C.G., and de Miranda, I.C., 2009, Characterization of sugarcane and coconut fibers by thermal analysis and FTIR, J. Therm. Anal. Calorim., 97, 661–665.

[12] Rambabu, N., Panthapulakkal, S., Sain, M., and Dalai, A.K., 2016, Production of nanocellulose fibers from pinecone biomass: Evaluation and optimization of chemical and mechanical treatment conditions on mechanical properties of nanocellulose films, Ind. Crops Prod., 83, 746–754.

[13] Troedec, M., Sedan, D., Peyratout, C., Bonnet, J., Smith, A., Guinebretiere, R., Gloaguen, V., and Krausz, P., 2008, Influence of various chemical treatments on the composition and structure of hemp fibres, Composites Part A, 39 (3), 514–522.

[14] Carillo, F., Colom, X., Sunol, J.J., and Saurina J., 2004, Structure FTIR analysis and thermal characterization of lyocell and viscose-type fibres, Eur. Polym. J., 40 (9), 2229–22034.

[15] O'Connor, R.T., DuPré, E.F., and Mitcham, D., 1958, Applications of infrared absorption spectroscopy to investigations of cotton and modified cottons, Text. Res. J., 28 (5), 382–392.

[16] Hurtubise, F.G., and Krassig, H., 1960, Classification of fine structural characteristics in cellulose by infrared spectroscopy. Use of potassium bromide pellet technique, Anal. Chem., 32 (2), 177–181.

[17] Nelson, M.L., and O'Connor, R.T., 1964, Relation of certain infrared bands to cellulose crystallinity and crystal lattice type. Part I. Spectra of lattice types I, II, III and amorphous cellulose, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 8 (3), 1311–1324.

[18] Nelson, M.L., and O'Connor, R.T., 1964, Relation of certain infrared bands to cellulose crystallinity and crystal lattice type. Part II. A new infrared ratio for estimation of crystallinity in cellulose I and II, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 8 (3), 1325–1341.

[19] Oh, S.Y., Yoo, D.I., Shin, Y., Kim, H.C., Kim, H.Y., Chung, Y.S., Park, W.H., and Youk, J.H., 2005, Crystalline structure analysis of cellulose treated with sodium hydroxide and carbon dioxide by means of X-ray diffraction and FTIR spectroscopy, Carbohydr. Res., 340 (15), 2376–2391.

[20] Spiridon, I., Teaca, C.A., and Bodîrlău, R., 2011, Structural changes evidenced by FTIR spectroscopy in cellulosic materials after pre-treatment with ionic-liquid and enzymatic hydrolysis, Bioresources, 6 (1), 400–413.

[21] Poletto, M., Ornaghi, H.L., and Zattera, A.J., 2014, Native cellulose: Structure, characterization and thermal properties, Materials, 7 (9), 6105–6119.

[22] Neto, W.P.F., Silvério, H.A., Dantas, N.O., and Pasquini, D., 2013, Extraction and characterization of cellulose nanocrystals from agro-industrial residue – Soy hulls, Ind. Crops Prod., 42, 480–488.

[23] Gümüskaya, E., Usta, M., and Kirci, H., 2003, The effect of various pulping conditions on crystalline structure of cellulose in cotton linters, Polym. Degrad. Stab., 81 (3), 559–564.

[24] Kim, H.S., Kim, S., Kim, H.J., and Yang, H.S., 2006, Thermal properties of bio-flour-filled polyolefin composites with different compatibilizing agent type and content, Thermochim. Acta, 451 (1-2), 181–188.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.22146/ijc.31051