title: A novel green approach for the preparation of cellulose nanowhiskers from white coir.
abstract: The aim of this work was to optimize the extraction of cellulose nanowhiskers (CNW) from unripe coconut husk fibers (CHF). The CHF was delignified using organosolv process, followed by alkaline bleaching (5% (w/w) H2O2+4% (w/w) NaOH; 50°C, 90 min). The CHF was subsequently hydrolyzed with 30% (v/v) sulfuric acid (60°C, 360 min). The process yielded a partially delignified acetosolv cellulose pulp and acetic black liquor, from which the lignin was recovered. The CNW from the acetosolv pulp exhibited an average length of 172±88 nm and a diameter of 8±3 nm, (aspect ratio of 22±8). The surface charge of the CNW was -33 mV, indicating a stable aqueous colloidal suspension. The nanocrystals presented physical characteristics close to those extracted from cellulose pulp made by CHF chlorine-pulping. This approach offers the additional advantage of extracting the lignin as an alternative to eradication.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Centro de Ciências, Campus do Pici, Departamento de Química Orgânica e Inorgânica, Bloco 940, CEP 60455-760 Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. Electronic address: diego@alu.ufc.br.
authors.forename: Diego M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual do Ceará (UECE), Centro de Ciências, Campus do Itapery, Bloco S, CEP 60455-900 Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. Electronic address: jeh.quimica@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jessica S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.affiliation: Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Ceará (IFCE), Campus Maracanaú, Departamento de Química e Meio Ambiente, CEP: 61939-140, Maracanaú, Ceará, Brazil.
authors.forename: Amanda F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.affiliation: Embrapa Agroindústria Tropical - CNPAT, Rua Dra Sara Mesquita 2270, Planalto do Pici, CEP 60511-110, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Clea B
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Figueirêdo
authors.affiliation: Embrapa Algodão - CNPA, Rua Oswaldo Cruz 1143, Centenário, CEP 58428-095, Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil. Electronic address: joao.morais@embrapa.br.
authors.forename: João Paulo S
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Morais
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Centro de Ciências, Campus do Pici, Departamento de Química Orgânica e Inorgânica, Bloco 940, CEP 60455-760 Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. Electronic address: judith@dqoi.ufc.br.
authors.forename: Judith P A
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Feitosa
authors.affiliation: Embrapa Agroindústria Tropical - CNPAT, Rua Dra Sara Mesquita 2270, Planalto do Pici, CEP 60511-110, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. Electronic address: morsyleide.rosa@embrapa.br.
authors.forename: Morsyleide
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de F Rosa
mesh_terms: D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003059:Cocos / Q000737:chemistry*; D055772:Green Chemistry Technology; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008031:Lignin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013464:Sulfuric Acids / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D013464:Sulfuric Acids; C507903:coir; D002482:Cellulose; D008031:Lignin; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; C033158:sulfuric acid
keywords: Agribusiness; Cellulose nanocrystal; Green chemistry; Nanotechnology