PMID- 36333383
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20221108
LR  - 20230104
IS  - 2045-2322 (Electronic)
IS  - 2045-2322 (Linking)
VI  - 12
IP  - 1
DP  - 2022 Nov 4
TI  - Parametric optimization of the production of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) from 
      South African corncobs via an empirical modelling approach.
PG  - 18665
LID - 10.1038/s41598-022-22865-y [doi]
LID - 18665
AB  - In this study, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were obtained from South African 
      corncobs using an acid hydrolysis process. The delignification of corncobs was 
      carried out by using alkali and bleaching pretreatment. Furthermore, the 
      Box-Behnken Design (BBD) was used as a design of experiment (DOE) for statistical 
      experimentations that will result in logical data to develop a model that 
      explains the effect of variables on the response (CNCs yield). The effects (main 
      and interactive) of the treatment variables (time, temperature, and acid 
      concentration) were investigated via the response methodology approach and the 
      obtained model was used in optimizing the CNCs yield. Surface morphology, surface 
      chemistry, and the crystallinity of the synthesized CNC were checked using 
      scanning electron microscopy (SEM), a Fourier Transform Infra-red spectroscopy 
      (FTIR), and an X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, respectively. The SEM image of 
      the raw corncobs revealed a smooth and compact surface morphology. Results also 
      revealed that CNCs have higher crystallinity (79.11%) than South African waste 
      corncobs (57.67%). An optimum yield of 80.53% CNCs was obtained at a temperature 
      of 30.18  degrees C, 30.13 min reaction time, and 46 wt% sulfuric acid concentration. 
      These optimized conditions have been validated to confirm the precision. Hence, 
      the synthesized CNCs may be suitable as filler in membranes for different 
      applications.
CI  - (c) 2022. The Author(s).
FAU - Sadare, Olawumi O
AU  - Sadare OO
AD  - Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering the Built Environment, 
      Doornfontein Campus, University of Johannesburg, PO Box 17011, Johannesburg, 
      2028, South Africa. wumisadare@gmail.com.
FAU - Mabunda, Nomthandazo
AU  - Mabunda N
AD  - Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering the Built Environment, 
      Doornfontein Campus, University of Johannesburg, PO Box 17011, Johannesburg, 
      2028, South Africa.
FAU - Ikegwu, Ugochukwu M
AU  - Ikegwu UM
AD  - Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of 
      Wisconsin-Madison, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
FAU - Keitemoge, Molly K
AU  - Keitemoge MK
AD  - Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering the Built Environment, 
      Doornfontein Campus, University of Johannesburg, PO Box 17011, Johannesburg, 
      2028, South Africa.
FAU - Daramola, Michael O
AU  - Daramola MO
AD  - Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and 
      Information Technology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0028, South 
      Africa.
FAU - Moothi, Kapil
AU  - Moothi K
AD  - Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering the Built Environment, 
      Doornfontein Campus, University of Johannesburg, PO Box 17011, Johannesburg, 
      2028, South Africa.
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
DEP - 20221104
PL  - England
TA  - Sci Rep
JT  - Scientific reports
JID - 101563288
RN  - 9004-34-6 (Cellulose)
SB  - IM
MH  - *Cellulose/chemistry
MH  - Zea mays
MH  - South Africa
MH  - *Nanoparticles/chemistry
MH  - Temperature
PMC - PMC9636206
COIS- The authors declare no competing interests.
EDAT- 2022/11/06 06:00
MHDA- 2022/11/09 06:00
PMCR- 2022/11/04
CRDT- 2022/11/05 00:28
PHST- 2022/06/27 00:00 [received]
PHST- 2022/10/20 00:00 [accepted]
PHST- 2022/11/05 00:28 [entrez]
PHST- 2022/11/06 06:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2022/11/09 06:00 [medline]
PHST- 2022/11/04 00:00 [pmc-release]
AID - 10.1038/s41598-022-22865-y [pii]
AID - 22865 [pii]
AID - 10.1038/s41598-022-22865-y [doi]
PST - epublish
SO  - Sci Rep. 2022 Nov 4;12(1):18665. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-22865-y.