A recently published abstract of an article published in this month's (Dec. 2018) edition of Carbohydrate Polymers Vol. 201 (Pages 329-339):

 

The principal aim of this study is to develop a method for the production of cellulose nanofibers from the banana peel (BP) and banana bract (BB). It's also the aim of this study to produce cellulose-based biopolymers through acetyl and lauroyl modifications. The microwave digestion method and ball milling assisted ultra-sonication method was optimized for sustainable extraction of microcellulosic and nanocellulose fibers.

• Microwave digestion was found to be effective in the removal of hemicellulose and lignin in this experiment.

 Micro and nano cellulose fibers of BP and BB were found to contain type I cellulose structure. Thermal stability and crystallinity index of cellulose nanofibers were examined to be higher than it’s native micro cellulose. Nanocellulose fibers were examined to be a potential source for production of acetyl and lauroyl cellulose, with a high degree of substitution and thermal stability. Hence, microwave digestion and ball milling assisted ultra-sonication method was proven to be effective in the extraction of nanocellulose fiber for development of cellulose-based polymers.

 

 

Principal Research Team: K.Harinia; K.Ramyab; M.Sukumara

Research Lab A: Center for Food Technology, Anna University, Sardar Patel Road, Guindy, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Research Lab B: Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sathyamangalam, Erode District, Tamil Nadu, India