Optimisation of chemical treatment parameters for enhanced yield of cellulose nanofibres from Semantan Bamboo (Gigantochloa scortechinii)

Semantan bamboo (Gigantochloa scortechinii) is one of available bamboo in Malaysia and an ideal source for cellulose based nanofibres. However, research on this bamboo has been moderately studied. Therefore, this study conducted a direct and simple chemical treatment using nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide which motivated by previous studies to extract cellulose nanofibre from Semantan bamboo. The Semantan bamboo was used in powder form with particle size in the range of 250 μm to 425 μm. The parameters of the chemical treatment which are temperature, duration of treatment and concentration of nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide were varied. The yield percentage of extracted Semantan bamboo cellulose nanofibres was determined and its functional groups was characterised using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The findings found the optimum that 76% of extracted Semantan bamboo cellulose nanofibres was obtained at treatment condition of 50 ℃, 48 hours and concentration of HNO3 and H2O2 at 3.2 mol/L and 60 mmol/g, respectively.