Rice husk Var. ‘Morelos A-2010’ as an eco-friendly alternative for the waste management converting them cellulose and nanocellulose

ABSTRACT

The lack of environmental awareness of agricultural producers is one of the challenges facing the problem of agro-industrial waste, coupled with few resources allocated to the development of new technologies and poor government policies for the management of such waste. An important potential has recently been recognised, with the obtaining of cellulose as the basis of the production of nano biocomposites. The objective of this work was the obtaining and characterisation of cellulose and nanocellulose from agro-industrial residues of rice (Oryza sativa L.) Var. ‘Morelos A-2010’, in Morelos state. The methodology used included the analysis of husk samples with three replicas, ground and sieved, which were processed by alkaline extraction (NaOH) 5%, bleaching with sodium hypochlorite 1%, followed by a pretreatment with hydrochloric acid (HCl) 0.65%. After drying, the cellulose was subjected to acid hydrolysis with (H₂SO₄) at 64% and then a sonication process, washings with low centrifugation and final drying of the fibre. The final product was characterised by spectrum in (FTIR), (DSC) and visualisation of its morphology, by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The results showed potential yields of 29 to 41% cellulose and a purity similar to the commercial standard of crystalline cellulose, which evidenced the possibility of using this agro-industrial by- product of Var rice. ‘Morelos A-2010’ as a source for obtaining nanocellulose in the region.

KEYWORDS:

• Cellulose
• acid hydrolysis
• agro-industrial waste
• Oryza sativa L
• nanocellulose

Acknowledgments

We thank to Conacyt for the scholarship awarded for the Postdoctoral Stay through the project Ref. 6401/2020, and the General Direction of the TecNM/ITZacatepec, for the support the execution of the project. We thank to Dr. Apolonio Vargas Torres de la (UAEH/ Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Tulancingo Hgo. Mexico.) for the realization of the thermal analyses in the project.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT), Mexico; [Project Ref. 6401/2020].