Preparation of bio-eco based cellulose nanomaterials from used disposal paper cups through citric acid hydrolysis.

The Used Disposal Paper Cups (UDPCs) have become a concern to the solid waste management sector as scientists triggered the problems in recent years, to proceed forward in developing the process for this issue. Based on this concern, the present study emphasizes on the isolation of a novel bio-eco based Cellulose NanoCrystals (CNCs) from UDPCs through citric acid hydrolysis. The effect of acid concentration on microstructure and yield of CNCs are highlighted. The optimized yield (55 wt.%) has an appearance of rod-like structure with a width of 13.7 ± 0.6 nm which results due to 76 wt.% of acid hydrolyzed CNCs. The colloidal stability, crystallinity index, presence of functional groups and elemental composition in CNCs (76 wt.%) were identified by employing zeta potential, XRD, conductometric test and FTIR techniques. Finally, the thermal stability of CNCs (76 wt.%) was investigated by thermo-gravimetric analysis.