Title:
Hydrolysis of Cotton and Sunflower By-Products with Nitric Acid as a Pre-Treatment for Cellulose Isolation. Optimisation of Experimental Conditions
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
Poster
Abstract:
Spain is one of the main producers of cotton and sunflower oil in Europe. The residues generated during the harvest season are being underutilized since they are mostly incinerated in the own orchards. The lignocellulosic nature of these agro-industrial wastes allows their revalorization, for instance, through the isolation of cellulose. This work deals with the optimization of an acid hydrolysis reaction as a pre-treatment for cellulose extraction from both cotton and sunflower stalks. Response Surface Methodology was used to obtain the optimized acid concentration (nitric acid), reaction time and reaction temperature. In both cases the process was efficient to remove hemicellulose and, especially, lignin. Harsher conditions (higher acid concentration) were needed for the isolation of cellulose from sunflower stalks as compared with cotton stalks. For the latter, the cellulose chains seem to be excessively attacked by the acid. Although further research would be necessary, it can be concluded from our results that the process can serve as a pre-treatment to isolate cellulose from these agro-industrial wastes.
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:
6AV.6.17
Pages:
1079 - 1081
ISBN:
978-88-89407-22-6
Paper DOI:
10.5071/30thEUBCE2022-6AV.6.17
Price:
FREE
