VALORIZATION OF BALANITE AEGYPTIACA (DESERT DATE) SEED SHELL FOR ISOLATION OF CELLULOSE NANOCRYSTALS AND ITS CHARACTERIZATION
The proliferation of agricultural waste leads to the desire for volarization of these waste to valuable products. This study aims to explore the potential of Balanite aegyptiaca seed shells as a novel source for the isolation of cellulose nanocrystals. The valorization of Balanite aegyptiaca (Desert Date) seed shell was done by isolation of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) from agricultural waste via chemical method. Initially, a strong alkali treatment was used to swell the fibers, followed by a bleaching step to remove the residual lignin and finally an acetylation step to reduce the impact of the intermolecular hydrogen bonds in the nanocellulose. The result of this sequence of up-scalable chemical treatments was a pulp consisting mainly of micro-sized fibers, which allowed simpler handling through filtration and purification steps and permitted the isolation of cellulosic product with high solids content. An aqueous dispersion of CNC could be obtained directly from magnetic stirring and centrifuging. Finally, the CNC obtained were characterized using Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results indicated that CNC extracts prepared from Balanite Aegyptica are spherical in shape as shown in the FESEM image, with crystallinity of 72 % and it has a thermal stability of over 300 ?C. This outcome shows a feasible value-added product from an agricultural waste with an improved property that could results in inexpensive CNC with mechanical strength, and thermal stability which can be considered in various works of life including engineering, construction, water treatment and other fields of nanocrystalline cellulose applications which could be explored.
Authors : Aji, M.M., Kadai, B., Mustafa, B.G. and Ali, L.Y.
Category : Open Access Volume (Issue) : 11(1) Date Uploaded : 7th May 2025