Waste management to clean environment: Optimization of acid/alkali concentration for efficient cellulose extraction from cotton waste

This study investigated the optimization of acid and alkali concentrations for the efficient extraction of cellulose from cotton wastes. Various concentrations of sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄), hydrochloric acid (HCl), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), and potassium hydroxide (KOH) were tested to assess their efficiency in extracting cellulose from different cotton waste materials, including crop and cloth wastes. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), as well as X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to determine the degree of structural integrity and crystallinity of the extracted cellulose. From the obtained results there is clear evidence that 90% H₂SO₄ had the highest efficiency in extracting the cellulose which is confirmed by more advanced FTIR peaks related to cellulose functional groups and high crystallinity index according to the XRD analysis. The cellulose extracted through this method exhibited strong C-O-C linkages and O-H vibrations, confirming its purity and structural integrity. In contrast, cellulose extracted using HCl, NaOH, and KOH showed lower efficiency, with weaker FTIR signals and less crystalline structures.