Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) was used in the study to extract cellulose biopolymer. Cellulose extraction was carried out by alkali treatment followed by bleaching. Different methods for extraction of cellulose were carried out and the method which gave high yield was selected. Functional properties like bulk density, packed density, hydrated density, water retention capacity, oil retention capacity, emulsifying activity and setting volume of the extracted cellulose were studied. Quantitative analysis of cellulose was carried out by the anthrone method and the cellulose content was found to be 38.94 ± 0.10%. Preliminary con rmation of cellulose biopolymer was done using the study of functional groups using FT-IR analysis. Further characterization studies like SEM, XRD, DSC and TGA were done to understand the molecular architecture and purity of cellulose extracted. Fabrication of cellulose sheets were carried out using starch as plasticizer. Biodegradation studies were carried out in garden soil for four weeks and a high degradation rate of 78.22 ± 0.71% was observed in the fourth week of soil burial.

Effluents and contaminants released from the industries are needed to be treated before releasing them to water bodies. Most common effluents from these industrial wastes are organic compounds, dyes and heavy metals. Heavy metals and their associated anions, as well as organic material, have been separated from wastewaters in industries using a variety of methods. Adsorption is an effective method for water treatment as they are less energy consuming and cost effective. Biopolymers such as chitosan, cellulose, keratin are used for the process of adsorption as they are present abundantly and recyclable. Chitosan is a deacetylated product of chitin. Chitosan and its derivatives are extremely essential due to their abundant availability, low cost, environmental friendliness, and biodegradability and can be widely applied in wastewater treatment. -NH2 and -OH groups are present in chitosan and provide chitosan an opportunity to make physical and chemical modifications. Modifications of chitosan into hydrogels and nanocomposites provide wider applications in wastewater treatment.

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Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) was used in the study to extract cellulose biopolymer. Cellulose extraction was carried out by alkali treatment followed by bleaching. Different methods for extraction of cellulose were carried out and the method which gave high yield was selected. Functional properties like bulk density, packed density, hydrated density, water retention capacity, oil retention capacity, emulsifying activity and setting volume of the extracted cellulose were studied. Quantitative analysis of cellulose was carried out by the anthrone method and the cellulose content was found to be 38.94 ± 0.10%. Preliminary confirmation of cellulose biopolymer was done using the study of functional groups using FT-IR analysis. Further characterization studies like SEM, XRD, DSC and TGA were done to understand the molecular architecture and purity of cellulose extracted. Fabrication of cellulose sheets were carried out using starch as plasticizer. Biodegradation studies were carried out in garden soil for four weeks and a high degradation rate of 78.22 ± 0.71% was observed in the fourth week of soil burial.