Cellulose nanocrystal extraction from tissue paper wastes using different extraction methods and cellulose acetate production.

This paper examines the feasibility of extracting cellulose from tissue paper wastes (TPW’s) using several methods: sonication (SC), subcritical (SU), microwave (MC), and microwave with diluted acid (MA). The chemical characterisation and morphological properties of nanocrystal cellulose were investigated using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-Ray analysis (SEM-EDX). TPW’s have a relatively high crystallinity index (CrI = 61.02%). It was found to be lower than that for cellulose extracted using SU and SC MC, MA methods, where CrI to 65.65%, 68.07%, 69.21% and 73.42%, respectively. The MA method yielded cellulose with the highest CrI and altered surface morphology. This cellulose was selected for cellulose acetate synthesis. After acetylation, the CrI decreased to 61.45%, and the morphological aspect was changed. In conclusion, nanocrystal cellulose was successfully extracted from TPW’s and effectively changed to its esterified form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]