The effect of alkalinity percentage on the properties of carboxymethyl cellulose produced from bagasse fibers

Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) is a water-soluble polymer that has many applications in various industries, including pharmaceuticals, food, and oil. There are various raw materials and sources available for the production of CMC, one of which is the important material bagasse. Considering that bagasse contains 30-40% cellulose, it can be considered a cheap and accessible source of CMC. In this study, bagasse was first converted into brown pulp using the soda process and then bleached using sodium hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide to produce alpha-cellulose using the cold soda method. Finally, CMC was obtained. The alkalinity percentage is an influential factor in the cost and quality of the produced CMC. In this study, alpha-cellulose was produced from bagasse pulp under different alkaline conditions (20, 25, 30, 35, and 40%) using the etherifying agent carboxymethyl mono chlorine acetic acid (MCA). The degree of substitution (DS), purity, pH, and viscosity of the CMC produced were evaluated. The results showed that the produced CMC with an alkalinity percentage of 30% was comparable to that of commercial and industrial samples. The evaluation of CMC produced by FTIR and XRD analyses confirmed the accuracy of CMC production under all the conditions mentioned above. These results showed that bagasse is a good source for CMC production.