Synthesis and Characterization of Surface Modified Cellulose Nanofibers from Banana Peel

Cellulose nanofibers were separated from banana peel by pretreatment, chemical treatment, mechanical treatment and disintegration methods like sonication, cryo crushing and dissolution. Further, cellulose nanofibers were treated with acetic acid and acetic anhydride in presence of pyridine. The obtained cellulose fibers was characterized by Fourier Transformation Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and confirm the presence of OH, C-H bond and C-O-C groups in the synthesized Banana Peel Cellulose Nanofibers (BCNF) and presence of OH, C-H, C-O-C and CH3CO in the Acetylated Banana Peel Cellulose Nanofibers (Acetylated BCNF). The Size of BCNF and Acetylated BCNF were investigated by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The synthesized BCNF and Acetylated BCNF investigated by FESEM and TEM was around 90 nm to 150 nm and 30 nm to 60 nm respectively. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) Analysis was carried out for the BCNF and Acetylated BCNF. XRD result shows that synthesized BCNF and Acetylated BCNF were partially amorphous. The structural morphology was confirmed with the Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The Acetylated BCNF were successfully utilized in the preparation of membrane for water purification.