Jerivá (Syagrus romanzoffiana) fruit fibers valorization as cellulose and lignocellulose nanofibers source for nanopaper production

This study highlights the innovative use of Jerivá (Syagrus romanzoffiana) fruit pulp fibers— a poorly explored lignocellulosic source —as a sustainable and promising alternative to conventional raw materials for nanocellulose production. Nanofibrillated lignocellulose (LCNF) and nanofibrillated cellulose (CNF) were successfully extracted through alkaline treatment followed by mechanical defibrillation and subsequently applied to fabricate nanopapers (LCNP and CNP) via the casting method. The resulting suspensions were evaluated for stability and microstructure. In addition, the optical, physico-mechanical, and barrier properties of LCNP and CNP were investigated. The LCNF and CNF suspensions showed good stability of suspended particles. Notably, CNPs showed significant improvements in transparency (98 % at 600 nm), tensile strength (TS, 55.3 MPa), and elastic modulus (EM, 64.1 MPa) compared to LCNPs. Although the LCNP exhibited TS of nearly 30 MPa, improvements were observed in the contact angle and a reduction in water vapor permeability (WVP) of around 86 % and 5 %, respectively, compared to the CNP. Therefore, Jerivá fruit stands out as a promising, accessible, and innovative source for obtaining LCNF and CNF, with both raw materials showing great potential for applications in packaging companies and as composite reinforcement.