Extracción de celulosa de cáscara de naranja, estudio del método y aplicaciones.

Abstract

The objective of the following investigation was to extract the cellulose of the orange’s peel, Citrus Sinensis, of the Valencia variety. Taking into account that the waste generated from this fruit had not been eliminated as a useless left-over, a great interest has arisen to give it an added value through an accurate physicochemical treatment. The characterization made by (Virreira J. and Gongora O. 2014), during the series of experiments carried out by them, in which they established that the gross fiber percentage of the fresh peel is 10,68% and the dry peel is 30,10%, was taken as a point of departure. The experiments were carried out using the KRAFT process. During these experiment factors like, the concentration of the reagents (NaOH, S2Na), temperature and cooking time, were modified. The results were compared with another optional method mentioned before. After finishing the respective trials, we were able to extract a 24,9 % using the KRAFT process. The concentration of the cooking liquor was modified, establishing values of 25% of NaOH and 20% of S2Na with 45 °C and 50 °C of temperature during 60 min of cooking time. Also, it was washed with water (H2O) several times and a three- stages bleaching process was applied. Using the second method we were able to extract a 14%. Once the wanted product was obtained (cellulose), a practical application has to be chosen taking into account the availability of the reagents needed and the complexity of the preparation processes of it. So, nitrocellulose was prepared. This way, cellulose can be extracted using the Kraft process and it can be used to prepare nitrocellulose. The author recommends to continue with the trials in order to find more efficient methods for extracting the cellulose, as well as, diminishing the environmental impact due to the use of certain chemical reagents.