Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) were isolated from lettuce peel using specific chemical treatments, i.e., NaOH alkali solution treatment, NaClO 2 bleaching and sulfuric acid hydrolysis.Both cellulose and cellulose nanofibers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD).The morphological features and particle size distribution of cellulose and nanostructures were explored using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a Malvern laser particle size analyzer.The results showed that the particle diameters of the majority of nanofibrillated celluloses were in the range from 10 to 20 nm, and the length between 190 and 460 nm.The crystallinity index reached 41.57%, which increased by 117.3%, compared with the raw material.The crystalline lettuce peel nanofibers belong to cellulose type I.Moreover, the thermal degradation temperature of CNFs is 271.7 °C, which is 47.3 °C higher than that of the untreated peel.The CNFs obtained from these treatments can be used as additional reinforcement in biocomposites in composite manufacturing processes or in the food industry.
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