Modification of Orange Bagasse with Reactive Extrusion to Obtain Cellulose-Based Materials

Abstract

Orange bagasse (OB) could be considered a sustainable, renewable, and low-cost biomass for the extraction of cellulose. In this context, reactive extrusion can be considered an excellent, eco-friendly, alternative process for the extraction of cellulose from lignocellulosic materials. Thus, the present study aimed to obtain cellulose-based materials with a reactive extrusion process and also to investigate the impact of pectin on the delignification process. Two groups of samples (OB and depectinizated OB) were submitted to extrusion with sulfuric acid or sodium hydroxide in one-step processes. The cellulose content of extruded materials was highly affected by pectin content in the raw material; the thermal profile (TGA curves) and crystallinity also changed. The cellulose content of modified materials ranged from 18.8% to 58.4%, with a process yield of 30.6% to 79.2%. The alkaline reagent provided the highest cellulose content among all extrusion treatments tested, mainly for OB without pectin. The extrusion process was considered an efficient and promising process for extracting cellulose from citrus residue. Materials produced in this study can be used as sources of cellulose fiber for various products and processes, such as in the food industry, fermentation substrates, or refined applications after subsequent treatments.

Cellulose‐based smart materials: Novel synthesis techniques, properties, and applications in energy storage and conversion devices

“…Insoluble fibers such as cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and soluble fibers like pectin and gums make up the fibrous structure. 50 Under mild chemical sequential extraction conditions, OB from nature and OB from industry were examined as starting materials for the manufacture of NC. Mariño et al 51 investigated the OB in nature and industrial OB was used as a starting material for the production of NC, which accounted for acid (5% v/v and 100°C) and/or alkaline conditions (NaOH 1.6%-4.0% m/v, 120°C), and bleaching with NaClO 2 (1%-3% m/v, 80°C).…”

“…The complicated composition of OB changes depending on the species and the season. Insoluble fibers such as cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and soluble fibers like pectin and gums make up the fibrous structure 50 …”