Materials Science, Energy and Nanoengineering (MSN) Department, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Lot 660 - Hay Moulay Rachid, 43150 Ben Guerir, Morocco; Materials Science and Process Optimization Laboratory, Faculty of Science Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, 40000 Marrakech, Morocco; Chemical Processes and Applied Materials Laboratory, Polydisciplinary Faculty, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, 23000 Beni-Mellal, Morocco.
Materials Science, Energy and Nanoengineering (MSN) Department, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Lot 660 - Hay Moulay Rachid, 43150 Ben Guerir, Morocco.
Int J Biol Macromol. 2022 Apr 1;203:302-311. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.01.163. Epub 2022 Jan 30.
Cactus fruit waste seeds (CWS) are a by-product of the cactus fruit processing industry. Until now, CWS are not recoverable in any sector. The valorization of these residues may reduce their volume in the environment and transform them into valuable products. In this work, CWS have been identified for the first time as a sustainable lignocellulosic source. Cellulose microfibers (CMFs) and nanocrystals (CNCs) were successfully produced via alkali and bleaching treatments followed by sulfuric acid hydrolysis. It was found that the extracted CMFs showed an average diameter of 11 μm, crystallinity of 72%, and a yield of 25%. The as-produced CNCs exhibited a needle-like shape with a diameter of 13 ± 3 nm and length of 419 ± 48 nm, giving rise to an aspect ratio of 30.7, with a zeta potential value of - 30 mV and a charge content of sulfate groups of 287.8 mmol·kg. Herein, the obtained cellulosic derivatives with excellent properties from this underutilized waste can draw the attention of researchers towards CWS as a new type of biomass with virtually no hemicellulose, which could be of great interest to isolate and study the effects of how lignin interacts with cellulose.
仙人掌果废种（Cactus fruit waste seeds，CWS）是仙人掌果加工产业的副产物。迄今为止，CWS 在任何领域都无法被回收利用。这些废物的增值利用可以减少它们在环境中的体积，并将其转化为有价值的产品。在这项工作中，CWS 首次被确定为一种可持续的木质纤维素来源。通过碱处理和漂白处理，然后进行硫酸水解，成功地生产出了纤维素微纤维（Cellulose microfibers，CMFs）和纳米晶体（Cellulose nanocrystals，CNCs）。结果发现，提取的 CMFs 平均直径为 11μm，结晶度为 72%，产率为 25%。所生产的 CNCs 呈针状，直径为 13±3nm，长度为 419±48nm，长宽比为 30.7，zeta 电位值为-30mV，硫酸基团含量为 287.8mmol·kg。在此，从这种未充分利用的废物中获得的具有优异性能的纤维素衍生物可以引起研究人员对 CWS 的关注，将其视为一种新型生物质，几乎不含半纤维素，这可能有助于分离和研究木质素与纤维素相互作用的影响。
