Quantitative determination of cellulose content of peels of selected plants growing in Enugu Urban

Eric, Enem Chukwudike and Cosmas, Chikezie Kenechukwu and Abiodun, Adeoye Kayode and Olajide, Babarinde Taofeek and Chisom, Ifeanyichukwu Blessed and Franklyn, Ezenwa Nwaeze (2025) Quantitative determination of cellulose content of peels of selected plants growing in Enugu Urban. World Journal of Biology Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 21 (1). pp. 250-267. ISSN 2582-5542

Recycling agricultural waste into industrial raw materials can lessen pollution in the environment and encourage entrepreneurship among the increasing number of unemployed life science graduates. This study created cellulose from plantain and cassava peels that had physicochemical characteristics similar to those of cellulose that are made commercially. For 16 hours, 90% ethanol was used to defat the powdered cassava and plantain peels (CPP and PPP, respectively), with sporadic shaking using a mechanical shaker set to 150 rpm. Every defatted PP was dried for seven hours at 800C in a hot air oven. Deproteination was accomplished by soaking in 1mol of NaOH solution at a PH of 11.6 for 24 hours at a ratio of 1.10w/v (100g PP/1000ml). For three hours, the deflated and deproteinated PPP and CPP were immersed in 15% hydrogen peroxide. Hausner's Quotient of CPC and PPC, bulk density, packed density, hydrated density, emulsifying activity, and water and oil retention capabilities were all examined. For CPP and PPP, the peel powders have crude fat concentrations of 3.20% and 2.18%, respectively, and protein contents of 4.50% and 3.85%. The bulk densities of CPC, PPC, and CC are 0.52, 0.55, and 0.21, respectively, while their packed densities are 0.68, 0.73, and 0.28. The CC (1.98) has a lower water retention capacity (WRC) than the CPC (3.09) and PPC (2.96). The ORC of 3.23 for the CC was higher than that of the PPC and CPC (0.11).