APPLICATION POSSIBILITY OF ELECTROHYDRODYNAMIC TECHNIQUE FOR CELLULOSE EXTRACTION FROM BAGASSE: OPTIMIZATION USING RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY

This study describes a promising alternative extraction process called electrohydrodynamic technique (EHD), used to extract cellulose from bagasse. The effects of EHD treatment time and heating time on cellulose extraction were investigated. The extraction conditions were then optimized using response surface methodology. The highest cellulose extraction yield was obtained when both independent variables were at their highest level (EHD: 2 h; heating: 3 h). A larger hydrodynamic size of cellulose was achieved under the optimum conditions, confirming the amorphous structure of cellulose created under the effect of EHD. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy was used to investigate the distribution of hydrogen bond types. The content of inter- and intra-molecular hydrogen bonds was altered when EHD was used for cellulose extraction. EHD significantly affected the composite-like structure of bagasse, which subsequently led to a higher cellulose extraction yield, and transition of crystalline to amorphous structure due to the disruption of the hydrogen bond network.