Journal of food science and technology(Iran)

Journal of food science and technology(Iran)

Extraction of Cellulose from Corn Leaves Using Green Solvents, Evaluation of the Properties and Purity of the Obtained Cellulose

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Pouya Rezvani 1
Ali Forouhar 2
Hajar Shekarchizadeh 1
1 Department of Food Science and Technology, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan
2 Department of Food Science and Technology,college of agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan
10.48311/fsct.2026.119780.83104
Abstract
Extracting bio-components from this agricultural waste, plays a crucial role in completing the agricultural value chain. Among environmentally friendly extraction methods, Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs), as green solvent, have emerged as a promising approach. This study aimed to extract cellulose from corn leaves using DESs formulated with choline chloride (ChCl) and glycerol (Gly). First, the physicochemical properties of the prepared solvents, including pH and viscosity, were investigated at different ChCl:Gly ratios (1:1, 1:2, and 1:3). Then, cellulose extraction was performed using the three different DES ratios, and key parameters including extraction yield, cellulose purity, holocellulose, lignin, and hemicellulose content were evaluated. The lowest viscosity was observed in the DES with the intermediate ratio (1:2). Furthermore, the Power Law model fitting of viscosity data revealed that with increasing the molar ratio of glycerol from 1 to 3, the flow behavior index increased from 0.36 to 0.71, indicating the modulation of pseudo-plastic behavior and the shift toward Newtonian behavior. The extraction yields at ratios of 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3 were 69.20 ± 0.28%, 69.97 ± 0.32%, and 70.88 ± 0.17%, respectively. The corresponding cellulose contents were 44.63 ± 0.19%, 46.30 ± 0.14%, and 48.28 ± 0.16%, respectively. Notably, the 1:3 ratio demonstrated the highest purification efficiency, significantly reducing residual lignin content. Overall, all the ratios used for the deep eutectic solvent composed of choline chloride and glycerol demonstrated lignin removal and cellulose extraction capability, indicating their effectiveness in cellulose extraction and their potential as a green replacement for conventional solvents.
Keywords
Green Solvents
Deep Eutectic Solvent
Cellulose Extraction
Corn leaves
Agricultural Waste
Subjects
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