Nano-Cellulose from Jute Wastage: Resource for Sustainable Textile

Md. Amir Khasru

Jute is a natural textile fiber obtained from jute plant. About 3% of the nation’s total export earnings come from jute and jute-related items. The amount of money earned from the export of raw jute and jute products is $1,048.21 million USD. Jute fibers normally used to make Plain-Woven Fabric, Sacking (Loosely Woven Cloth), Food-Grade Jute Cloth, Yarn, Carpet Backing Cloth, and bio-degradable polybag and in many composite materials. Due to the special limitations of the spinning process, short fibers are not suitable for efficient production and therefore end up as waste. Jute mills generate many sorts of waste while processing jute fibers.

Caddis, floating dust, and sliver or thread waste are the three main wastes. JBO-based (JBO – Jute Batching Oil) and SBO-based (SBO – Soybean Oil Based) emulsions generated 17.90% and 21.26% waste, respectively. Many methods have been developed for the proper utilization of this waste, one of which is the method of separating nanofibrils or nanocrystals from the waste short fibers.  In recent study, Jute fiber waste is now possible to make nanocellulose and Jute strike could be converted into Charcoal. In Figure 1 shows the process of making alpha-cellulose from jute Caddies (Jute waste). Nanocellulose is obtained from Alpha-cellulose in a Mechanical process.

Nanocellulose fiber is a substance derived from cellulose, a naturally occurring polymer present in various sources, including byproducts of agriculture and plants. In words, Nano sized cellulose materials derived from cellulose material are called nanocellulose. They could be cellulose nanocrystals (CNC or NCC), cellulose nanofibers (CNF), or bacterial nanocellulose. Nanocellulose is biodegradable, non-toxic and no adverse effects on health and environment. It has notable features such as a substantial surface-to-volume ratio, elevated tensile strength, flexibility and stiffness, along with commendable dynamic mechanical, electrical, and thermal capabilities. In Electrical and optoelectrical devices, transparent nano paper device, biodegradable composites, medicine, cosmetics, and health care applications.

Process of Making Nanocellulose from Jute Waste:

Nanocellulose is made from waste of jute fiber by the combined action of a high-energy planetary ball milling technique with chemical treatment. The primary compounds of jute fiber are cellulose (alpha-cellulose), hemicellulose, and lignin. The chemical process defibrillates the fiber structure and extracts lignin and hemicellulose from jute fiber.

What is Planetary ball milling? 

The most used technique for breaking down solid material mechanically is the planetary ball milling technique. It has one turn disc and 2 or 4 containers that rotate in opposite directions. The centrifugal force is produced by rotation around its axis. The working process of Planetary ball milling is illustrated in figure.

Steps for producing nanocellulose from Jute waste:

Step-1: Initially, preparing small segment of 30mm length by cutting the length of jute fibers.

Step-2: Removes the hemicellulose and lignin from jute fibers by Chemical treatment. Mercerization by 18% Sodium Hydroxide at room temperature for 120 min

Step-3: 1M H₂SO4 treatment at 80˚C for 60 min.

Step-4: 4% NaOH treatment at 80˚C for further 60 min. 

Step-5: After Chemical treatment, grinding of jute fibers was carried out by a planetary ball milling machine Pulverisette 7 manufactured by Fritsch®

The special process of milling allows for the production of nanoparticles from any type of material, including waste textile fibers. It is universal in nature and operates simply. This method has a great deal of potential for industrial application because it can generate massive amounts of nanoparticles.

Nanocellulose from Jute Applications in Sustainable Textiles:

1. Nanocellulose fibers as reinforcing agents in textile composites.
2. Nanocellulose fibers for functional textile coatings.
3. The preparation of biocomposites.
4. Nanocellulose fibers for the development of new sustainable textile materials.
5. Pickering Emulsifiers from nanocellulose.
6. Wood Adhesives.
7. Biomedical Applications.
8. Aerospace.
9. Defense.
10. Construction.
11. Automobiles.

Challenges of nanocellulose in Bangladesh:

1. Cost of production.
2. Capturing the market of nanocellulose based material
3. Proper maintenance of production
4. Scalability.
5. Dispersibility.
6. Durability in Textile Matrices.

Market Size of Nanocellulose:

According to Straitsresearch , In 2022, the market for nanocellulose was estimated to be worth USD 756.8 million worldwide. It is forecast to increase at a CAGR of 21.66% over the projected period (2023–2031), reaching USD 4,418.8 million by 2031. Nanocellulose mainly used to Package foods and alcoholic beverages by the packaging industry. It also used as Composites, pharmaceutical and coating material in different industries. Eco-friendly, Strength, versatility and ability to be recycled these characters make it demandable.

Conclusion:

Production of nano cellulose from waste fiber of jute can be one of the profitable applications of jute waste in Bangladesh. Jute is one of the main cash crops of Bangladesh. Proper use of jute can take the country’s economy to unique heights. where the demand for nano textiles and nano cellulose is increasing in the world, but nano textiles are not progressing in our country. We should not only limit ourselves to the traditional textile and garment industries but also look at nano textiles, nano cellulose. We should enter the world market of nanocellulose, nano textile, Smart Textiles. We must capture the world market of smart textile for sustainability of our textile sector.  Nanocellulose from jute waste would be the best opportunities for us. There are many methods and raw materials for the production of nano cellulose, the most readily available and most produced raw material in the country is jute.

References:

1. Nanocellulose in Textiles: A Potential Resource for Sustainable Textile Manufacturing, https://chemrxiv.org/…/article…/6585323a66c1381729c645d4
2. Commercial application of cellulose nano-composites – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30847286
3. Investigation on Wastage Analysis of Jute Fiber Spinning Using JBO and Soybean Oil-Based Emulsion. https://www.butex.edu.bd/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ICTSE-126.pdf
4. Preparation of nanocellulose from jute fiber waste https://medcraveonline.com/JTEFT/preparation-of-nanocellulose-from-jute-fiber-waste.html
5. Acidulated Extraction of Nanocellulose from Jute Fibre Wastes https://renupublishers.com/images/article/IJBSv8n2c.pdf
6. Nanocellulose:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanocellulose
7. Importance of functionalized jute fibers in the field of Nano cellulose for the preparation of biodegradable
8. Nano composites: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2214785323000469
9. Nanocellulose Market Size, Growth and Forecast to 2031  https://straitsresearch.com/report/nanocellulose-market
10. Review of recent research in nano cellulose preparation and application from jute fibers https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301735735_Review_of_recent_research_in_nano_cellulose_preparation_and_application_from_jute_fibers