Síntesis de fibras de carbono a partir de bagazo de caña de azúcar (Saccharum officinarum)

Abstract

Lignocellulosic materials or biomasses, such as agricultural waste, have been identified as possible sustainable sources that can replace petroleum-based polymers. An example of this is sugarcane bagasse since it is produced in large volume and its biodegradation is a slow process, it does not have an intended reuse, which causes environmental problems, as well as social and economic ones. This study focused on using this waste to extract cellulose and lignin synthesis in carbon fibers (FC) and finally the physical properties determination, such as conductivity and mechanical resistance. The highest extraction of cellulose yield was at 40 °C using 1% NaOH while for lignin it was achieved using 65% H2SO4 and boiling for 2 hours (h). The fibers were obtained by electrospinning bagasse lignin mixed with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) (10% w/v), followed by thermostabilizing (225 °C) in an oxidizing atmosphere and later carbonization in an inert atmosphere (850 °C). Electrospinning, thermostabilized, FTIR, SEM, and EDS characterized carbonized fibers. The results of the characterization revealed that the FCs did not present functional groups such as O-H, C-H, C-O. With a morphology of networked filaments of reduced diameter due to the carbonization to which they were subjected and with a high amount of carbon present in their structure. The conductivity of the CFs was (0,00088 S/cm) and the mechanical resistance was theoretically proposed, due to their fragility. Finally, the present work proves that lignin obtained from sugarcane bagasse can be used as a manufactured FC the most promising precursor due to its high carbon content.