Extraction of Cellulose from Bagasse for the Synthesis of Alginate: Cellulose Porous Beads

This study aimed to develop the production of porous cellulose beads from bagasse. Alkali extraction with 6% sodium hydroxide was identified as the optimal solvent for cellulose, based on the swelling ratio. This process resulted in viscose cellulose solution with improved characteristics, including a density of 1.099 g/ml, viscosity of 0.024 Pa·s, molecular weight of 171.668 g/mol, and a swelling ratio of 50.8%. The beads fabrication using the cellulose extract combined with alginate led to the formation of beads with a homogeneous and rough surface. Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) was utilized as a porogen and zinc acetate served as the crosslinking agent. The optimal composition of alginate to cellulose xanthate for bead formation, determined through evaluations of bead geometry, swelling power, and surface porosity using SEM-EDX, was found to be a 2:2 ratio.