Isolation and characterization of cellulose fibre from turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) leaves

Abstract

Being the world’s largest manufacturer of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), India produces tones of turmeric plants every year. The rhizomes are mostly used and leaves are not taken care. This research focuses on mechanical isolation of turmeric leaf cellulose fibre and its quality. The production of cellulose by photosynthesis is estimated to be 1011 to1012 t/year. Cellulose fibre became a more attractive material for commercial applications. Mechanically isolated (screw press) cellulose fibre produced from turmeric leaves on hydrolysis, delignification and homogenization resulted in a highest degree of fibrillation of 258.34 + 1.29%. The Kappa number was found to be 15.13 + 0.01. The chlorine bleached cellulose fibres using DSC when tested at a temperature range of 30 °C to 150 °C, no sharp melting peaks were observed. It is concluded that cellulose fibers produced from turmeric leaves by mechanical isolation were of bleachable, fibrillent and thermo-stable up to 150 °C.