Extração de nanocristais de celulose da casca da castanha-do-Brasil (Bertholletia excelsa)

Abstract

The agro-industry wastes have been in so many discussions, because of the inappropriate disposal, causing damage to the environment. So many companies are searching for a way to reuse these wastes to reduce the damage and increase their profits while assist sustainable development. They are searching for renewable raw materials which can be use to high quality production with less aggressive to the environment. A lot of studies use cellulose as support material, because it is the most abundant polymer in nature. So, the agro-industry can use the wastes to extract cellulose nanocrystals, using they, for example, as support material, glazes etc. In this present work, the nanocrystals were extracted by shell of Brazil nut, an abundant agroindustry waste. Initially, mercerization and whitening were made to remove some fibre components, for example, lignin and hemicellulose. It was possible to observe through the x-ray diffraction (DRX) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), this process was effective to remove that components. After, the fibre passed by an acid hydrolysis and was treated in diferents times and temperatures. The crystals were extracted in many trials, but trail nine had the better income with 36,895% in 102 minutes and 40°C.