Cellulose Microfibers Isolated from Yucca Leaves: Structural, Chemical, and Thermal Properties

ABSTRACT

The present study addressed the isolation of cellulose microfibers (CMF) from Yucca leaves using chemical treatments. This study was conducted in three stages, namely, two stages of alkaline treatments (NaOH 3%), and a single stage of bleaching treatment (H₂O₂ 6%). The resulting microfibers were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infra-red (FTIR), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). Alkaline and oxidative bleaching treatments had a positive impact on defibrillation and morphology of the fibers by the partial removal of non-cellulosic materials. FTIR results also revealed that most of the amorphous components were removed through proper alkali and bleaching treatments from the fibers. Further, SEM analysis showed that cellulose microfibers with an average diameter of 7 µm were successfully isolated with a yield of about 25%. The crystallinity index (76%) and crystallite size (3.41 nm) of CMF were also determined through the XRD analysis. The method used in this study led to the isolation of the microfibers with the thermal stability of 215°C and activation energy of 67.72 kJ/mol. The values obtained in this study were reasonably promising for the use of Yucca cellulose microfibers in various applications, such as reinforced-polymer manufacturing.

摘要

本研究旨在通过化学处理从丝兰叶中分离纤维素超细纤维 (CMF) . 本研究分三个阶段进行, 即两个阶段的碱性处理 (NaOH 3%) 和一个阶段的漂白处理 (H2O2 6%) . 利用扫描电子显微镜 (SEM), X射线衍射 (XRD), 傅立叶变换红外光谱 (FTIR) 和热重分析 (TGA) 对所得超细纤维进行了表征. 通过部分去除非纤维素材料, 碱性和氧化漂白处理对除颤和纤维形态有积极影响. FTIR结果还表明, 通过适当的碱处理和漂白处理, 纤维中的大部分非晶态成分被去除. 此外, SEM分析表明, 成功分离出平均直径为7µm的纤维素超细纤维, 产率约为25%. 通过XRD分析测定了CMF的结晶度指 (76%) 和晶粒尺寸 (3.41 nm) . 本研究采用的方法可分离出热稳定性为215°C, 活化能为67.72 kJ/mol的超细纤维. 本研究中获得的值对于丝兰纤维素超细纤维在各种应用中的使用是有希望的, 例如增强聚合物制造.

KEYWORDS:

• Bleaching process
• cellulose microfibers
• chemical retting
• crystallinity
• Yucca leaves

关键词:

• 漂白工艺
• 纤维素超细纤维
• 化学脱胶
• 结晶度
• 丝兰叶

Disclosure statement

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

Ethical approval

This study does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.