Fotonic and Electron Microscopy Images for Quality Evaluation of Delignification of Agave Fibers

The present work is aimed to study the microstructural changes that occurred during the delignification process of agave fibers using microscopy techniques and image analysis (AI). Acetosolv kinetic was followed by chemical analysis and by light (LM), confocal laser scanning (CLSM), and scanning electron (SEM) microscopies, evaluating the micrographs by image analysis (IA). Kinetic studies showed that delignification process followed three stages: initial, bulk and residual; these stages kept a relation with the microstructural changes occurring in the fibers. The data obtained integrate numerical information that could be valuable for study of pulping of lignocellulosic materials and these techniques can be used as useful non-destructive methods for the evaluation of the delignification process.