Optimization of carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) production conditions from palm kernel

Palm kernel is one of the major agricultural wastes and industrial uses of dates. Palm kernels in Iran are often disposed of as waste or used for animal feed. In this research, this low value material was investigated and a product with a high purity value of carboxymethylcellulose was produced from it. Palm kernels contain about 63% cellulose. Cellulose along with hemicellulose and lignin are its main constituents, which form a strong fibrous structure. In this study, cellulose was extracted from palm kernel powder by treating sodium hydroxide and sodium chlorite. The extracted cellulose was converted to CMC using two processes: alkaline cellulose and ether cellulose. SEM was used to study the structure of CMC, which removed the surface impurities of the fibers and the swollen spherical shape of the fibers indicated the suitability of the method used. To identify the carboxymethyl groups substituted on cellulose, FTIR spectroscopy was used, which confirms the peaks in the wave numbers of 1425 and 1612 / cm. The optimization results showed that at a concentration of 29.799% sodium hydroxide, the weight ratio of sodium monochloroacetic acid to cellulose was 1, temprature 68 ° C and a reaction time of 158 min, the highest degree of substitution and purity and efficiency were obtained. It turns out that these highest degrees of extraction and degree of purity and efficiency are 0.97, 97.99 and 166.80%, respectively. Also, the viscosity of 3% CMC solution in water at 50 rpm was 347.93 ms.