Refinement technique for nanocellulose extraction from corn cobs as a green material for environmental sustainability

Abstract

Corn cob and other types of agricultural biomass waste are abundant and have several potential uses as renewable materials. A unique extraction approach for producing nanocellulose materials with precise control, scalability, and promising practical applications has been presented. Nanocrystalline cellulose was produced from corn cobs by mechanical treatment with ultrasonic technology, room temperature extraction for 30 minutes, and sulfuric acid concentrations ranging from 30 % to 60 % w/v. Nanocellulose has been effectively extracted from maize cobs with comparatively high yields and crystallinities ranging from 63.55 % to 71.76 %. The TEM data demonstrate the production of fiber nanoparticles with a size range of 15.3 nm to 2.1 nm. Simultaneously, SEM results match TEM findings. SEM pictures indicate smaller nanoparticles as sonication duration rises, but particle size does not vary with acid content. XRD analysis indicates an increase in the amount of crystalline cellulose in nanocellulose, demonstrating a notable transformation of cellulose. Nanocellulose and cellulose had similar FTIR spectra, distinct from the basic material of corn cobs. The FTIR analysis showed that the NaOH and subsequent bleaching treatments eliminated most hemicellulose and nearly all lignin throughout the conversion process. This work introduces a method for extracting nanocellulose from corncob waste utilizing standard ultrasonic technology under moderate conditions, at a cheap cost, in an ecologically responsible manner, with a high yield while maintaining its integrity.