Optimization and Characterization of Pulp Extracted from the Agave Americana L. Fibers

The influence of temperature, pulping time and soda concentration on the yield, kappa index, brightness and fiber density of Agave Americana L. pulp has been studied. Using a factorial design to identify the optimum operating conditions, equations relating the dependent variables to the operational variables of the pulping process were established. The morphology of the cellulose fibers (length distribution, diameter distribution and crystalline index), obtained from the optimum pulping already determined by the statistical study, was determined by measuring 5020 fibers with optical microscopy equipped with CCD camera and image analysis software, and FT-IR spectra. Cellulose fibers extracted from Agave Americana L. had a lower lignin content value (1.13%) and an absorption capacity of 10.5 g/g. Finally, the characteristics of the optimum Agave pulp were compared to those of other vegetable fibers.