Ultrasound-Alkali-Assisted Isolation of Cellulose from Coconut Shells

Abstract

This research explored the isolation of cellulose from coconut shells using ultrasound. It involved two types of cellulose isolation: alkali and bleached cellulose (ABC) and ultrasound-alkali-assisted isolated cellulose (UAIC). The products were characterized using various techniques, including attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The ATR-FTIR results confirmed the effective removal of lignin and hemicellulose in the ABC and UAIC samples. Field emission scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed the production of micro-sized cellulose. The TGA and XRD results showed improved thermal stability and crystallinity in ABC and UAIC, attributed to the elimination of non-cellulosic constituents. However, the thermal stability and crystallinity of UAIC were lower compared to ABC, likely due to the cavitation effect caused by sonication. The findings suggest that ultrasonication is an efficient and promising method for isolating cellulose.