Title:
Extraction and Characterisation of High-Quality Cellulose from Pre-Hydrolysed Olive Tree Pruning Biomass for Polymer Applications
Author(s):
Rodríguez-Liébana, J.A., Jurado-Contreras, S., Morillas-Gutiérrez, F., La Rubia, M.D., Moya, A.J., Mateo, S., Navas-Martos, F.J.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
Spain is the main producer of olive oil at global scale. The residues generated during the pruning of olive trees are being underutilised since they are mostly burned, or milled and spread in the own croplands. Since olive tree pruning has a relatively high concentration of cellulose, its isolation and purification could be a smart alternative for the economical revalorisation of this agroindustrial waste, especially in the Southern region of Spain that concentrates most of olive orchards. Therefore, this research deals with the design of a chemical treatment to extensively remove lignin, hemicellulose and other non-cellulosic components from olive tree pruning, and achieve a pulp highly refined in cellulose. The results reflected that the proposed methodology was efficient in removing lignin and hemicellulose, hence yielding a pulp with a concentration of cellulose of almost 90%. This purification of cellulose was confirmed by the physico-chemical charaterisation carried out. We may conclude from our results that olive tree pruning biomass can be considered as a suitable source for the isolation of cellulose, and that the isolated cellulosic fraction had required features for its further conversion on cellulose derivatives for polymer applications.
Keywords:
biomass, cellulose, agroindustrial residues, lignocellulosic sources, biopolymers
Topic:
Biomass Conversion to Bio-Based Products and Chemicals
Subtopic:
Processes for bio-based chemicals and materials
Event:
30th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
6AO.6.1
Pages:
1015 - 1017
ISBN:
978-88-89407-22-6
Paper DOI:
10.5071/30thEUBCE2022-6AO.6.1
Price:
FREE
