Production of Cellulose Nanocrystal (CNC) Combine with Silane Treatment from Pennisetum Purpureum via Acid Hydrolysis

Cellulose nanocrystals, a class of fascinating bio-based nanoscale materials, have received a tremendous amount of interest both in industry and academia owing to their unique structural features and impressive physicochemical. This nanomaterial is a promising candidate for applications in fields such as biomedical, pharmaceuticals, electronics, barrier films, nanocomposites, membranes, supercapacitors. Nanocellulose has the disadvantage of being hydrophilic. The purpose of this study was to characterize nanocellulose from Pennisetum Purpureum fiber that had been given silane treatment. The isolation and characterization of nanocellulose from Pennisetum Purpureum were carried out. Chemical pretreatment has included alkali treatment which used 10% NaOH for 35 min and 60 °C temperature. Bleaching process with 12% NaOCL for 24 h and acid hydrolysis with H2SO4, 45 °C, 60 min will disperse amorphous part of cellulose. The silane treatment was carried out by soaking and heating the fibers at a temperature of 50 °C for 2 h using APTES (3-aminopropyl-triethoxy) and methanol with a ratio of 9:1. The mixture was centrifuged until neutral pH was obtained. The obtained suspension was sonicated (Branson Sonifier 450) for 5 min with an 800 W and freeze-dried to solid NCC. Based on the fiber characterization, alkali and bleaching pretreatment conditions showed that the surface impurities on the fiber were removed, and peak at 1058 cm−1 for C–O–C pyranose ring vibrations indicates the extensive cellulose exposure. The most significant finding from moisture content on dried samples after dialysis showed that nanocellulose only contains ± 1% moisture. These results indicate that Pennisetum Purpureum could become a viable source of commercially valuable nanocellulose.