Comparação Ambiental e Técnica de Diferentes Nanoestruturas de Celuloses Obtidas da Fibra de Coco

Abstract

Coconut water is obtained from coconut and is fairly traded along the coast of Brazil, mainly in the North and Northeast. However, their consumption entails the disposal of large quantities of bark, which inappropriately collected, therefore contributes to increased pollution and decreased lifespan of landfills. When properly processed, the bark can be used to obtain products with high added value, such as nanocelulose. The aim of this study is to propose a new approach and evaluate the environmental impacts of obtaining nanocellulose of green coconut fiber (Cocos nucifera) on a laboratory scale. In this study, coconut fiber was subjected to seven fully elemental chlorine-free processes for the extraction of nanocelulose [grinding, pulping acetosolv, bleaching, hydrolysis with sulfuric acid 30 (v/v) and 60 % wt oxidative hydrolysis with ammonium persulfate and high intensity ultrasound]. Whereas the concept of biorefinery, part of the lignin removed from the coconut fiber was isolated as a oproduct of the process and effluent evaluated for potential production of methane via anaerobic digestion. A review of life cycle assessment (LCA) followed the NBR ISO-14040 and ISO 14044 the following impact categories were considered: Climate change, soil acidification, human toxicity, eutrophication and water depletion. The nanocellulose obtained via high intensity ultrasound showed a high yield, higher thermal stability and crystallinity index in relation to methods of chemical hydrolysis. In this analysis it was observed that, in general, the use of high power ultrasound has also improved environmental performance. Was also observed with the aid of LCA that use lignin as a source of energy presents no significant environmental differences in relation to its use as a coproduct. The extraction of nanocellulose developed in this paper presents an improved environmental performance and superior to the other works with the coconut fiber properties, while offering an innovative alternative for lignin extraction and utilization of wastewater, ie, considering its use as a potential raw materials and not only its destruction during the process.