Hydro-distilled wastes from Rosa canina: a new renewable bioresource for the extraction and characterization of cellulosic microfibers

The hydro-distillation of roses generates a large amount of wastes, which has a huge impact on the ecosystem. In this regard, the aim of this study was to investigate, for the first time, the valorization of hydro-distilled wastes from Rosa canina as novel renewable bioresources for the extraction of cellulosic microfibers (CMFs). CMFs were extracted utilizing a series of steps (dewaxing, hot water treatment, alkali treatment, and bleaching). The chemical analysis of the raw material revealed that it contains 23.55 ± 0.48 wt% α-cellulose, 30.91 ± 0.42 wt% hemicelluloses, and 34.21 ± 1.17 wt% lignin, among other components. The yield and average diameter of the extracted CMFS were 23.34 ± 0.56% and 9.66 ± 0.38 μm, respectively. The effectiveness of the performed treatments was evaluated by macroscopic, microscopic, spectroscopic, and thermal techniques. The recovered CMFs exhibited a good whiteness index (75.72 ± 0.01), excellent purity (80.42 ± 1.17%), and moderate crystallinity (51%). They were also thermally stable (T_max = 350.41 °C). These findings are encouraging, given the aim to exploit these unconventional wastes for the extraction of cellulosic microfibers which can potentially be applied in the sectors of chemicals, biomaterials, and energy, leading to effective waste management. Therefore, valorizing these undervalued wastes will not only alleviate the environmental challenges, but it will also provide an appealing and sustainable raw material for green chemistry and energy production.