Efficient Approches of Tunisian Oilerie Wastes Management for High-Yield Cellulose Extraction

The focuses of this work is the extraction of cellulose from olive stone wastes, an important by-product of the olive oil industry. Olive stones, a lignocellulosic biomass were selected due to their abundance in Tunisian agricultural waste and high cellulose content. Two Extraction methods were involved in this work for cellulose namely: maceration and soxhlet extraction. The extraction process involved a series of chemical treatments, including delignification and bleaching, to isolate cellulose fibers. Various characterization techniques including: Fourier Transform InfraRed spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM-EDX), Thermogravimetry Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA/TGA), were employed to confirm the successful isolation and evaluate the structural, chemical, and thermal properties of the extracted cellulose. The extraction yields of cellulose obtained using maceration and soxhlet were respectively: 45.4 % and 37.6%. This study highlights the potential of valorizing olive stone waste as a sustainable source of cellulose, contributing to environmental protection and waste management in the agro-industrial sector.