Comprehensive characterization of microcrystalline cellulose from lemon grass (Cymbopogan citratus) oil extraction agro-industrial waste for cementitious composites applications.

Presently, the construction industry demands components that are exceptionally strong and long-lasting. The initial important construction material is concrete, which contains between 1 % and 2 % of air voids. The structural damage caused by water that enters through the air spaces are improved with filler material. Chemical filler materials are environmentally harmful; therefore, eco-friendly materials are selected for this study. The environmentally benign character of agro-waste byproduct usage is a driving factor in the field of research. Numerous uses can be found for waste materials, especially after they have been repurposed. We used a byproduct of an essential oil extraction company, an extract made from the leaves of lemon grass (Cymbopogan citrus), in our research. Alkalization, slow pyrolysis, acid hydrolysis, and bleaching are only some of the chemical treatments that could be used to easily extract microcrystalline cellulose from the discarded waste material. In our study the chemicals used are mild harmful to the environment and a surface reactant (linear alkyl benzene sulfonic acid) is utilised to bleach and purify the microcrystalline cellulose. Thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and Fourier transform spectroscopy were all used to learn more about the cellulose that had been extracted. The extracted cellulose powder comprises a high crystallinity index (68.14 %) and low crystallite size (5.13 nm) found using X-ray diffraction analysis. The smooth and porous surface is observable in scanning electron microscope analysis. The Differential scanning calorimeter curve shows the highest degradation temperature at 218.16 °C. The micro sized particles mostly range between 100 and 120 μm and are found using ImageJ. The surface roughness and permissible skewness of cellulose particles were examined using atomic force microscopy. The density of extracted cellulose is 1.092 g/cm. The microcrystalline cellulose yield % was notably maximum (40.45 %). This cellulose was introduced in a M30 grade cement concrete as fillers up to 5 % by the weight of cement. The fresh and mechanical properties of the concrete was found to get improved with the addition of cellulose up to 3 %. As a result, the characteristics of cellulose boost its utility within the construction sector.