EXTRAÇÃO, MODIFICAÇÃO E APLICAÇÃO DA FIBRA DO BAGAÇO DE MANDIOCA (Manihot esculenta Crantz)

Abstract

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a crop with high production yields in Brazil, and with processing, it generates large amounts of a high-moist solid byproduct that is of difficult destination. This byproduct known as bagasse or massa by the cassava starch producers shows high levels of starch and fiber. Thus, the aim of this study was to extract, characterize and modify the fiber cassava bagasse (FBM) for applying in composites, besides getting nanocrystalline cellulose. In order to remove residual starch form the pulp an enzymatic hydrolysis was carried out, leaving only the cassava fiber, i.e., cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Selected analyses were performed to confirm complete removal of starch such as high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), thermogravimetry (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and color analysis. To incorporate the fiber in a polymeric matrix, we carried out a chemical modification by acetylation of the fibers, making them more hydrophobic, facilitating achievement of composites. After modification, mid-infrared spectroscopic analysis (FTIR) was performed to verify the substitution of hydroxyl groups. The composite (5, 10 and 20 % fiber) were obtained in a twin screw extruder, followed by injection. The test pieces were submitted to tensile test and flexure, SEM, DSC and color analysis, and they presented homogeneous mixture. The nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) was developed from three bleaching stages of fiber for higher removal of lignin, followed by acid hydrolysis, dialysis and centrifugation, and subsequent analyses were performed in zeta potential to verify size reduction of cellulose particles, and morphological analysis (SEM). The NCC obtained from FBM was compared with NCC obtained from microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). The CNCs remained suspension stable and low particle sizes, while the CNC-FBMB resulted in a high degree of crystallinity.