Cellulose nanocrystals from natural fiber of the macrophyte Typha domingensis: extraction and characterization

In this work the macrophyte Typha domingensis was characterized. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were extracted and pretreated with alkali at 80 °C followed by hydrolysis with sulfuric acid 34 % (w/w) at 80 °C for 15 min. The plants were separated into two groups: the young and senescent. Then each plant was sectioned into three parts (top, bottom and middle). The middle and the bleached middle fibers were characterized using thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and the chemical composition. The CNCs from the young middle part show values of 593 ± 482 nm in length and 12.6 ± 4.4 nm in diameter and the senescent part 704.4 ± 316 nm in length and 7.4 ± 3.5 nm in diameter. The results were obtained using an atomic force microscope and show the great potential of this fiber as a source of CNCs to reinforce polymeric material.