OBTAINING CELLULOSE FROM SUGAR CANE (Saccharum spp.) PULP

Abstract

This study showed the possibility of obtaining cellulose from sugar cane (Saccharum spp.) pulp, with a chemical treatment of (sulfuric) acid hydrolysis on cellulose fibers, generating 48 % yield. The analysis of X-ray difractograms revealed that the crystallinity of the cellulose obtained is 55% ±2.0, with an average crystal size of 2 nm ±0.20 equivalent to 22 Å ±2.0, while the crystallinity of the cellulose part of the sugar cane pulp (without treatment) had a lower value (41 %), with an average crystal size of 2.2 nm (22 Å), similar to that of cellulose obtained with the treatment. The higher crystallinity of the cellulose obtained was attributed to the efficient form of dissolution of the amorphous regions (lignin and hemicellulose), confirmed with the spectrum of the infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The stereoscopy images allowed observing the characteristics of the cellulose fibers, showing a good relation of aspect that allows them acting as reinforcement to compound materials, in addition to representing a promising source in biomaterial and paper production.