Modification of Sugarcane Bagasse By Acetylation

Abstract

Bagasse has high cellulose content (52.7%), that can be modified into cellulose acetate by acetylation. Cellulose was isolated from bagasse by treatment with water, delignification with NaOH and NaClO2, and activation with H2SO4. Scanning Electron Microscopy analysis showed that cellulose fibers have coated fibers after delignification and cellulose microfiber has not coated fibers after acid treatment. Infrared spectra showed the acetylation succeeded as proved by absorption of C=O at 1751–1749 cm-1 and absorption of –C–O– at 1244–1267 cm-1. The degree of substitution for delignified products were 0.07 (NaOH delignification) and 1.01 (NaClO2 delignification). Acetylated product had the highest degree of substitution (2.37). The degree of substitution and the molecular weight increased, meanwhile the degree of polymerization decreased. Molecular weight was 58,577–72,516 g mol-1 and degree of polymerization was 289–509. To evaluate the modified bagasse performance, it was used as a stationary phase in column chromatography and toluene was used as mobile phase. The extract of Curcuma xanthorrhiza was not eluted in the modified bagasse column.