Microfibrillated cellulose from pine cone: extraction, properties, and characterization

The aim of the current study is to extract microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) from a novel and unexploited waste material, pine cone. The collected pine cone was grounded and subjected to bleaching and alkali treatments to extract the microfibrillated cellulose, which was then characterized by different techniques to study their structural properties. The chemical analysis revealed that pine cone consists of around 37% cellulose, making them a potential candidate for the isolation of microfibrillated cellulose. FTIR results confirmed the removal of amorphous constituents like lignin and hemicellulose. X-ray diffraction results demonstrated a significant increase in the crystallinity index of MFC (39.59%) compared to raw fibers (18.89%). The pine cone microfibrillated cellulose was determined to have a diameter of about 14.30 µm, which was much smaller than that of raw fibers, as shown by the FESEM images. This study will help to provide a holistic approach to address critical challenges in waste management through the sustainable valorization of pine cones waste and promote the concept of the circular economy.