Extraction, Characterization and Methyl Orange Sequestration Capacity of Cellulose Nanocrystals Derived from Sugarcane Bagasse: Experimental and Regression Modelling

Document Type : Regular Article

Authors

1 Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences, Osun State University, Osogbo

2 Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Osun State University, Osogbo, Nigeria

3 Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Nigeria

4 Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Osun State University, Osogbo, Nigeria.

Abstract

The adsorptive capacity of cellulose nanocrystals extracted from sugarcane bagasse using acid hydrolysis for methyl orange (MO) sequestration was investigated. The extracted nanocrystals were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR). Well-defined pore spaces, predominant nano range of particles (0.045 – 0.082 µm), greater crystallinity index from 1.09 to 1.21, and disappearance of peaks at 1736 and 1429 cm-1 in FTIR in addition to higher carbon content are parameters that better-define the characteristics of cellulose nanocrystals. A Two-fold improvement in monolayer adsorption capacity was obtained for cellulose nanocrystals (432.17mgg-1) described by Langmuir isotherm over bagasse (170.99 mgg-1) described by Freundlich isotherm. Adsorption processes on both adsorbents were spontaneous, exothermic and best described by pseudo second-order kinetics. Polynomial regression models appropriately predicted equations that best describe the effects of different batch adsorption parameters on MO removal with better fittingness than experimentally generated data.

Graphical Abstract

Extraction, Characterization and Methyl Orange Sequestration Capacity of Cellulose Nanocrystals Derived from Sugarcane Bagasse: Experimental and Regression Modelling

Keywords