Fibrillated Nanocellulose Obtained by Mechanochemical Processes from Coconut Fiber Residue

Rich in cellulose, the agro-industrial residue of “Cocos nucifera L.” stands out due to its high global production. In view of this, this research into the development of cellulose nanofibrils from green coconut fiber residue evaluated the fiber produced from an alkaline pre-treatment associated with a grinding process using a colloidal mill, which produced pure and renewable cellulose with characteristics similar to those of commercial celluloses. FTIR and XRD spectroscopy analyses showed that the methodologies established for coconut fiber are efficient in removing amorphous groups. The XRD corroborated the spectrogram and revealed a peak at 2θ = 22°, corresponding to the crystalline region of cellulose I. Both analyses were preceded by thermal analysis showing a reduction in lignin and an increase in the cellulose fraction. The AFM and SEM morphological micrographic analyses confirm the efficiency of the mechanochemical treatment in producing nanometric fibers, which, when submitted to rheology analyses, presented the desired gel profile.