Enzyme-Assisted Isolation of Micro fibrillated Cellulose (MFC) from Saccharum Munja Fibre and its Characterization

The use of unconventional renewable sources as raw material to produce micro fibrillated (MFC) cellulose is the alternative sought to maintain ecology. Saccharum Munja grass is a renewable grass which contains fibrous material which can be extracted as short fibres. These extracted fibres were used as raw material to isolate MFC using enzyme assisted ball milling process. The process parameters were optimised by varying the enzyme concentration and time period. Characterisation of the isolated MFC was carried out. The particle size of MFC was measured using particle size analyzer. 10 micron particle size was achieved of the MFC. Morphology of isolated MFC was studied using electron microscopy. Presence of the different chemical groups was analysed using infrared spectroscopy. X ray diffraction analysis, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and Surface behavior of MFC was also studied. From the present studies it can be concluded that the isolation of smaller particle size MFC can be achieved by enzyme assisted ball milling without acid hydrolysis.