Thermal and Morphological Properties of Cellulose Nanofiber from Pseudo-Stem Fiber of Abaca (Musa Textilis)

In the current study, cellulose nanofiber (CNF) has been isolated using the steam explosion method. The objective of this research is to determine the thermal and morphological properties of CNF from pseudo-stem fiber of abaca (Musa textilis). The obtained CNF is isolated using three steps: (1) Isolation of alpha-cellulose using alkaline and acid hydrolysis, (2) treatment of obtained alpha-cellulose with steam explosion methods in the presence of H(2)C(2)O(4)11wt%, and (3) homogenization of CNF. The obtained CNF is characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and thermal analysis (TGA). The FT-IR spectra of CNF show the presence of typical vibration from -OH and -CH3 at 3600-3300 and 2900-2800 cm(-1). The TEM image shows the average fiber width of the obtained CNF is about 5.5 nm, which is in the range 2.90-8.32 nm. Based on XRD spectra, the crystallinity of CNF is higher than alpha-cellulose. TGA analysis shows alpha-cellulose has better thermal stability than raw abaca fiber and CNF. The presence of lignin and hemicellulose plays a big role in the low thermal stability of raw abaca fiber and CNF. This thermal stability is evaluated from the initial decomposition temperature of raw abaca fiber, alpha-cellulose, and CNF at 284, 317, and 300 degrees C.