Isolation of nanocellulose from Saba’ (Musa acuminata x balbisiana) banana peel by one-pot oxidation-hydrolysis system

In the present study, facile one-pot production of nanocellulose from ripe and unripe Saba’ banana (Musa acuminata x balbisiana) peel was conducted by utilizing hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as an oxidizing agent prior to hydrolysis with sulfuric acid (H2SO4) at different concentrations (8%, 24% and 40%). Proximate and chemical compositions of the ripe and unripe banana peel (BP) powder were analyzed, followed by physicochemical characterizations of the resulting nanocellulose by using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). FTIR analysis has confirmed the successful removal of non-cellulosic components from the BP through the distinguishable spectra of both the ripe and unripe BP powder with the H2O2/H2SO4- treated samples. SEM analysis revealed morphological changes of the BP powder from an irregular structure with a presence of starch granules to lamellar and fibrous structures after the H2O2/H2SO4 treatment and freeze-drying. The size of the nanocellulose is strongly influenced by the concentration of sulfuric acid used. Nanocellulose from ripe BP produced by using the 40% H2SO4 has the smallest size with D50 < 80 nm. These findings suggest the potential of banana peel, an abundant agricultural waste to be valorized into value-added materials with significant economic potentials.