EXTRACTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CELLULOSE NANOCRYSTALS FROM CORNCOB

Abstract

The growing emphasis on sustainable practices has increased interest in biopolymers, particularly cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) derived from agricultural wastes. This study focuses on extracting and characterizing CNCs from corn cob, a widely available agricultural product. The extraction process involved pretreatment steps to remove non-cellulosic components, followed by acid hydrolysis to isolate CNCs. Characterization was performed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), identifying significant functional groups associated with the CNC structure. The analysis revealed the presence of hydroxyl, carbonyl, and aliphatic groups, indicating the successful preservation of cellulose characteristics during extraction. The findings suggest that corn cob is a promising source for CNC production, contributing to waste reduction and the development of environmentally friendly materials with potential applications in various industries since 3.75% was obtained from the initial 10g.