Characteristics of Cellulose Nanocrystals from Sugarcane Bagasse Isolated from Various Methods

Sugarcane ( Saccharum officinarum L.) is a tropical plant widely grown in Indonesia. The waste produced in the sugar industry reaches up to ±84%, including solid waste (bagasse). Sugarcane bagasse can be used as a raw material to manufacture cellulose nanocrystals (CNC). This study aimed to examine the yield and characteristics of CNC from bagasse, including the morphology and crystallinity index isolated from the various methods, including acid hydrolysis, catalytic TEMPO (2,2,6,6- Tetramethylpiperidin -1- Oxy ) oxidation, ultrasonication, and high-pressure homogenization. The acid hydrolysis method results in the highest yield (58%) at 33% sulfuric acid concentration and a 30-min hydrolysis time. The highest crystallinity CNC has also been reported through the acid hydrolysis process (89%), by using a sulfuric acid concentration of 65% in 45 min. The CNC morphology was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The highest axial ratio was 64 with dimensions of 2 nm in width and 255 ± 55 nm in length, which was obtained from acid hydrolysis using a sulfuric acid concentration of 33% and a hydrolysis time of 30 min. So, the yield, morphology, and crystallinity of CNC obtained differ for each method, depending on the concentration of chemicals used, processing time, and mechanical treatment such as tools and pressure.