Synthetic characterization and structural properties of nanocellulose from moringa oleifera seeds

Abstract

In this research, nanocellulose is isolated from Moringa oleifera seed using acid hydrolysis and the structural properties were determined. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were used for the characterization of the isolated nanocellulose. The most noticeable peak is observed at 22.53° and the value of the crystallinity index (CIr) from the XRD pattern is 63.1%. The calculated values of hydrogen bond intensity (HBI), lateral order index (LOI) and total crystalline index (TCI) are 0.93, 1.17and 0.94 respectively exhibited high degree of crystallinity and well arranged cellulose crystal structure. The isolated nanocellulose has an average length and diameter of 14.3 nm and 36.33 nm respectively. Furthermore, the FTIR peaks revealed the presence of C-H bending, C-O stretching and O-H stretching functional groups.