Isolation of nanocellulose from pineapple leaf fibres by steam explosion

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers Vol. 81; no. 3; pp. 720 - 725
• Main Authors: Cherian, Bibin Mathew, Leão, Alcides Lopes, de Souza, Sivoney Ferreira, Thomas, Sabu, Pothan, Laly A., Kottaisamy, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 07.07.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Applied sciences; Atomic force microscopy; Biological and medical sciences; Cellulose and derivatives; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Nanocellulose; Nanofibril; Natural fibres; Natural polymers; PALF; Physicochemistry of polymers; Pineapple leaf; Use of agricultural and forest wastes. Biomass use, bioconversion; Pineapple leaf; Atomic force microscopy; Nanocellulose; Natural fibres; Nanofibril; PALF; Ananas comosus; Monocotyledones; Cellulose; Plant fiber; Nanofiber; Plant leaf; Chemical isolation; Crystallinity; Experimental study; Hydrothermal treatment; Morphology; Angiospermae; Bromeliaceae; Spermatophyta
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2010.03.046

Steam explosion process is employed for the successful extraction of cellulose nanofibrils from pineapple leaf fibres for the first time. Steam coupled acid treatment on the pineapple leaf fibres is found to be effective in the depolymerization and defibrillation of the fibre to produce nanofibrils of these fibres. The chemical constituents of the different stages of pineapple fibres undergoing treatment were analyzed according to the ASTM standards. The crystallinity of the fibres is examined from the XRD analysis. Characterization of the fibres by SEM, AFM and TEM supports the evidence for the successful isolation of nanofibrils from pineapple leaf. The developed nanocellulose promises to be a very versatile material having the wide range of biomedical applications and biotechnological applications, such as tissue engineering, drug delivery, wound dressings and medical implants.