Obtención de celulosa microcristalina aplicando hidrólisis ácida a partir del bagazo de la caña de azúcar (Saccharum officinarum) proveniente de la parroquia Balsapamba-Bolívar

Abstract

The objective of this research project consisted of obtaining microcrystalline cellulose by applying acid hydrolysis from sugar cane bagasse (Saccharum officinarum) at the parish of Balsapamba - Bolivar. The research focused on the utilization of residues of high biological value that are not fully exploited to obtain microcrystalline cellulose. For the experimentation process two stages were carried out. The first stage consisted of obtaining cellulose by means of an alkaline hydrolysis using sodium hydroxide, varying the conditions (10 and 15% concentration for 60 and 75 min) and bleaching with sodium hypochlorite (3. 5% for 60 min), which allowed the separation of undesirable bagasse components such as hemicellulose and lignin; the second stage of the process was an acid hydrolysis of the cellulose obtained using sulfuric acid varying the conditions (40 and 50% concentration, for 60 and 75 min) which led to the synthesis of microcrystalline cellulose. After the experimentation, microcrystalline cellulose was obtained satisfactorily, which complied with most of the properties for this type of material according to the FARMACOPEA standard. The obtained yield percentage was 58.94% with a purity of 70.81%, which were the most optimal values obtained in the different tests, being the best one with the use of 15% sodium hydroxide for 75 minutes in the alkaline hydrolysis and 40% sulfuric acid for 75 minutes in the acid hydrolysis. For which it was concluded that through the different chemical treatments it is possible to obtain microcrystalline cellulose from sugar cane bagasse with good properties and a considerable percentage of purity. It is recommended to perform a prehydrolysis to the bagasse to reduce the ash content and obtain a higher purity.