Acidulated Extraction of Nanocellulose from Jute Fibre Wastes

Cellulose is a unique organic molecule abundantly available in nature and can be a great source of useful synthetic nonmaterial for its potential applications as fillers in biodegradable nanocomposite used in automotives, packing and agriculture applications. In the present study, an attempt have been made to develop nanocellulose from the waste fibers that produced in the form of short length from jute spinning industry during several mechanical processes popularly known as “caddies”. Sulphuric acid have been found be effective at a concentration of 60% for breakdown of cellulose long chain. Mechanical ultra-sonication in wet milling process yielded the optimum nanoform from alphacellulose. The extraction efficiency of alphacellulose from jute caddies is around 50% while the yield of nano cellulose is around 30%. The findings may mitigate problems of use of wood materials as a source of nanocellulose and find some alterantive source like jute stick and jute caddies. The process conversion to nanomaterials has wide implications in economic context and can minimize the long term industrial hazards through development of a valuable bio-resource.

• An acidulated synthesis pathway of nanocellulose have been ventured through this study.

• Jute Caddies, a short fibre waste from jute industry was used as source for extraction.

• The extraction process from jute caddies to nanocellulose have been well documented.

• The derived nanocellulose have been characterized through particle size analyzer, surface morphology, FT-IR.