Extraction of cellulose from SCB and its applications in CNC/metal nanocomposites
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Date
2018
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of Zululand
Abstract
The past few years have seen an increased interest in enforcing the principles of green chemistry in the scientific community. The aim of these principles is to reduce chemical related impacts on human health and virtually eliminate contamination of the environment through dedicated and sustainable prevention programs.
In the present study, of the many (12) green chemistry principles, we have put into implementation waste prevention, the use of safer solvents and/ or auxiliaries in syntheses, and the use of less hazardous chemicals in syntheses by undertaking a project that makes use of sugarcane bagasse, which is an agricultural waste material obtained when sugarcane is crushed to extract its juices during the production of sugar. From bagasse, cellulose was extracted through five different methods. Through acid hydrolysis, cellulose nanocrystals were synthesised from the extracted cellulose and in turn used as a template, reducing- and stabilizing agent in the synthesis of cellulose nanocrystal/metal (silver and gold) nanocomposites.
The fifth cellulose-extraction method yielded the most thermally stable and pure cellulose. This was shown by TGA and XRD analyses. As a result, the cellulose extracted through the fifth method was used to synthesize cellulose nanocrystals, which were then successfully used as a stabilizing and reducing agent in the formation of CNC/metal nanocomposites, as evident from FTIR, TGA, XRD, UV and TEM analyses.
Description
A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree
Master of Science in Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Agriculture at the University of Zululand, 2018.
Keywords
Nanocomposites, Green chemistry principles, Hazardous chemicals