CHARACTERIZATION OF CRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE EXTRACTED FROM DISTILLED WASTE OF CYMBOPOGON WINTERIANUS

Isolation of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) from distilled waste of Cymbopogon winterianus was performed by two different methods: acid hydrolysis and ultrasound-assisted TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl piperidine 1-oxyl) oxidation. The MCC obtained was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), particle size and zeta potential analyses. The results revealed that the cellulose particles obtained by the above-mentioned methods has a rod shape and micro size. The MCC achieved by TEMPO oxidation had a smaller particle size and higher aspect ratios compared to that obtained by acid hydrolysis. The results demonstrated that the MCC prepared by acid hydrolysis and TEMPO oxidation had a crystallinity of 86 and 77%, respectively. The in-vitro cytotoxic study revealed that both MCC materials obtained from Cymbopogon winterianus were non-toxic. The study demonstrated a novel approach for using aromatic residues as a potential feedstock for obtaining microcrystalline cellulose. The results suggested that the thus-prepared MCC could be of interest for different industrial applications, specifically in the biomedical field.