Cellulose nanocrystals obtained from different phenological stages from corn plant (Zea mays l.)

• Grant number: 16/23812-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2017
• End date: December 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Aparecido Junior de Menezes
• Grantee: Samir Leite Mathias
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias para a Sustentabilidade (CCTS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). Sorocaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Cellulose is the most abundant biopolymer in the world presenting an enormous chemical variability due to the functionalization of its hydroxyl groups. Furthermore, cellulose presents different morphologies that are found in a hierarchical structure constituent of the plants and can be presented in the form of fibers, microfibrils (MFC) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC). Cellulose microfibrils and, in particular, cellulose nanocrystals have been studied in nanocomposites due to their biodegradability, low coefficient of thermal expansion, optical anisotropy, high elastic modulus (similar to steel and Kevlar), high aspect ratio and high surface area. The present project aims to determine the chemical composition of the stem of maize (Zea mays L.) plants in different phenological stages, namely V3, V9, V13, V18 and R6 (Pre-Harvest) and the production of cellulose nanocrystals from the acid hydrolysis of ±-cellulose. Both the biomass and the obtained nanocrystals will be characterized by thermal analysis (Thermogravimetry Analysis) and X-ray Diffraction. The morphology of the fibers and the nanocrystals will be evaluated through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), respectively.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

LONGARESI, R. H.; DE MENEZES, A. J.; PEREIRA-DA-SILVA, M. A.; BARON, D.; MATHIAS, S. L.. The maize stem as a potential source of cellulose nanocrystal: Cellulose characterization from its phenological growth stage dependence. INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS, v. 133, p. 232-240, JUL 2019. (16/23812-9)