Production of Micro and Nano Crystalline Cellulose from Waste Cassava Pulp and Cassava Pulp Treated from Biogas System

Abstract The objective of this study was to produce microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) from solid waste cassava pulp from (i) a starch process and (ii) a biogas system (CP and CPbiogas, respectively) in the cassava starch industry. The process commenced with the removal of starch using α-amylase. The lignocellulosic fibers were bleached with 0.7% (w/v) NaClO₂ and 17.5% (w/v) NaOH, resulting in a cellulose content of 91% and 88% from the CP and CPbiogas, respectively. The average particle size of MCC ranged from 10–200 µm. Subsequently, it was hydrolyzed by 60% sulfuric acid for 132 min for produce NCC. NCC yield of less than 100-nm from CP and CPbiogas were 10 and 12% respectively. The resulting MCC and NCC from CP and CPbiogas were dried and characterized by X-ray diffractometry, revealing a crystallinity index of 68% and 70% of MCC, after H₂SO₄ hydrolyzed, the crystallinity index was increased to 71% and 76% of NCC from CP and CPbiogas, respectively. These characteristics demonstrated a highly promising potential for the obtained nanocellulose in various applications.