Cellulose of Salicornia brachiata

Abstract

Cellulose was extracted from the roots, stems and stem tips of Salicornia brachiata Roxb. Each crude cellulose sample obtained was fractionated into α- and β-celluloses. The yields of crude cellulose from the stems and stem tips were greatest and lowest, respectively, while the yields of α- and β-celluloses were in the order, roots > stems > stem tips. The cellulose samples were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), solid state cross polarisation magic angle spinning carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (CP/MAS 13C NMR), X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The data were compared with those of the celluloses (predominantly α-cellulose) isolated from Whatman filter paper No. 4 (WFP).