Synthesis of Sodiumcarboxymethylcellulose from BorassusAethiopum Pulp, and it’s Applications

Abstract

Soduimcarboxymethylcellulose (Na-CMC) which is a water soluble gum was synthesizedfrom thelignocellulosic fibrous trunk and frond parts ofBorassusaethiopum palm. Ziess electronic microscope was used to determine the lengths of the isolated trunk and frond fibres  as 1.98 ± 0.0071 mm and 4.5±0.01 mm     respectively. Digestion of the plant chips to isolate the pulp  was chemically carried out under an elevated temperature of 102 ⁰C using concentrated Nitric acid as pulping liquor. The  trunk’s pulp yield of 55.18 ± 0.75 %;  moisture content of  68.38 ± 1.6 %;  relative density  of  0.14 ± 0.002 g/cm³;  and ash content of 1.22±0.50%, were considered as good grades for commercial  Na-CMC. The characteristic whiteness of the cellulose gum was achieved at different concentrations using sodium hypochlorite. Alpha-cellulose was converted  to  cellulose gum by reacting with 17.5 % NaOH before the acid hydrolysis. The  values for the acidity or alkalinity, viscosity, and  binding strength tests of the research  samples compared  were determined. The effect  of the Na-CMC  on the binding strength, flexibility, and smoothness of washing soap, ceramic plates, papers, etc,  were  compared to the  commercial Na-CMC grade.