Title: The physical and chemical natures of cellulose extracted from torch ginger stems

Authors: Fazliyana Ahmad Zaki; Ibrahim Abdullah; Ishak Ahmad

Addresses: Faculty of Science and Technology, School of Chemical Sciences and Food Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia ' Faculty of Science and Technology, School of Chemical Sciences and Food Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia ' Faculty of Science and Technology, School of Chemical Sciences and Food Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract: Cellulose was extracted from torch ginger stems through alkali and bleaching treatments. The material obtained after each stage of the treatments was carefully characterised and its chemical composition was determined. Structural analysis was carried out by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The results indicated that the progressive removal of hemicellulose and lignin from the extracted cellulose. The α-cellulose content was increased extensively with successive treatments. The morphology observation with scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed that the average diameter of the extracted cellulose was reduced from 300 µm to 12 µm. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that the crystallinity increased after each treatment with an increased of the fibre crystallinity from 45% to 67%. The thermal stability of the fibre was found to increase at various purification stages when compared to the raw material.

Keywords: cellulose extraction; torch ginger; material characterisation; lignin removal; hemicellulose removal; fibre crystallinity; thermal stability.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMATEI.2014.059484

International Journal of Materials Engineering Innovation, 2014 Vol.5 No.1, pp.48 - 60

Published online: 17 May 2014 *

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