Optimization of the Obtaining of Cellulose Nanocrystals from Agave tequilana Weber Var. Azul Bagasse by Acid Hydrolysis

A multilevel factorial design of 23 with 12 experiments was developed for the preparation cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) from Agave tequilana Weber var. Azul bagasse, an agro-industrial waste tequila production. The studied parameters were acid type (H2SO4 and HCl), concentration (60 65 wt% H2SO4, 2 8N HCl) temperature (40 60 °C 50 90 hydrolysis time (40, 55 70 min H2SO4; 30, 115 200 HCl). obtained CNC physical chemically characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron (XPS), diffraction (XDR) techniques. maximum yield 96% HCL respectively, crystallinity values ranged 88–91%. size morphology A. strongly depends on time. shortest H2SO4 (65 wt%, 40 °C, min) had a length 137 ± 68 nm, width 33 7 height 9.1 whereas HCl (2 N, 30 216 73 69 17 8.9 nm. In general, ellipsoidal shape, prepared shorter thinner than those HCl. total sulfate group content increased time, temperature, concentration, exhibiting exponential behavior CSG=aebt.