Tuskegee University is investigating Hibiscus sabdariffa as a specialty crop for farmers in southern Alabama.  It would be desirable to find a value added use for the stems instead of relegating them to agricultural waste.  Over the last few years, interest in using biodegradable natural products to reduce the waste generated by discarded electronics has rapidly increased with a special focus on crystalline cellulose-based nanocomposites.  Cellulose is an ideal candidate for reinforcement fillers in polymers commonly used in electronics because it is an abundant, natural polymer that possesses great strength and biodegradability.  In this study, crystalline cellulose was extracted from the stems of Hibiscus sabdariffa via strong acid hydrolysis with sulfuric, nitric, and hydrochloric acids.  A comparison of the surface and structural differences of the polymer caused by the varying acids will be examined with x-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy.  Mechanical and thermal properties of the extracted cellulose will be investigated allowing additional insight into any characteristic improvements or regressions.

Synthesis and characterization of crystalline cellulose derived from Hibiscus sabdariffa stems, an agricultural waste product

248th National Meeting (2014)

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