Characterization of Nanofibers from Japanese Orange Inner Peels Prepared Using Pectinase and Diluted Alkali

Abstract

To develop the extracted nanofibers from wasted citrus peels, the preparation of cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) from Japanese citrus peels was investigated by using pectinase and the obtained nanofibers were characterized in the morphology and other properties in this study. First, the combination of pectinase treatment and diluted alkali treatment were applied as the pretreatment for mechanical nanofibrillation of Japanese citrus peels. Second. the obtained nanofibrillated peels were characterized and compared in the surface morphology. It was relatively easy to fibrillate cellulose from the Japanese citrus inner peels subjected to pectinase compared with cellulose obtained from other materials such as woody pulp. Nanofibers derived from citrus inner peels were easier to be mixed with the oil and maintained the small-size of oil drops more easily than the CNF derived from hardwood pulp. Considering these characteristics, the nanofibrillated cellulose obtained from citrus peels using pectinase could to be applied as an emulsion stabilizer in the food and cosmetic industry.