A new physical-chemical process for the efficient production of cellulose fibers from Spanish broom (Spartium junceum L.).
A novel and efficient method for the extraction of cellulose fibers from Spanish broom (Spartium junceum L.) is presented. The method is based on the sequential combination between an initial chemical stage (alkaline digestion) and a subsequent physical-chemical stage, consisting of compression with hot air in an autoclave followed by rapid decompression (DiCoDe process, digestion-compression-decompression). The alkaline mother liquor deriving from the initial digestion step can be conveniently recycled after centrifugation followed by ultrafiltration. The process is characterized by the production of fibers with excellent physical-chemical properties, such as high mechanical resistance and high elasticity, and rapid production times. The fibers obtained after the DiCoDe process can be further softened and whitened by means of enzymatic digestion. Fibers were morphologically characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), while their composition and physical-chemical properties were determined by conventional methods, including colorimetry, TAPPI protocols, IR spectroscopy, and X-ray diffractometry.
Gabriele
Bartolo
B
Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università della Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Cosenza, Italy. b.gabriele@unical.it
Cerchiara
Teresa
T
Salerno
Giuseppe
G
Chidichimo
Giuseppe
G
Vetere
Mabel Valeria
MV
Alampi
Cosimo
C
Gallucci
Maria Caterina
MC
Conidi
Carmela
C
Cassano
Alfredo
A
D002482:Cellulose / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D031302:Spartium / Q000378:metabolism*; D014462:Ultrafiltration; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
D002482:Cellulose