Extraction and dissolution of cellulose from nypa fruit husk for nanofibers fabrication

• Main Authors: Fauzee Siti Norfatihah, Othaman Rizafizah
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetic acid; Acids; Agricultural wastes; Cellulose; Crystal structure; Crystallinity; Dissolution; Nanofibers; Protocol; Shear viscosity; Sodium hydroxide
• ISSN: 0094-243X; 1551-7616
• DOI: 10.1063/1.4858769

In this study, cellulose was extracted by alkali and acid protocols from nypa fruit husk, the agricultural waste in order to produce nanofiber. In acid protocol, the pretreated sample was hydrolyzed with 10 % and 17 % sodium hydroxide (NaOH), and then refluxed using a mixture of sodium chlorite (NaClO2) and acetic acid (CH3COOH). Alkali protocol was a reverse process of acid protocol where the pretreated sample was refluxed and then hydrolyzed. The celluloses from both protocols were characterized and compared. The cellulose with high purity and crystallinity was then dissolved in NaOH/urea aqueous solution to prepare for electrospinning. In terms of yield based on mass, acid protocol is higher. However, since the celulose from the alkali protocol is pure, fibril and with low crystallinity, it was chosen for dissolution to be electrospun into nanofiber. Since the formation of nanofiber is very much affected by shear viscosity, few compositions of cellulose solution was prepared for further investigation.