Extraction and comparison of cellulose nanocrystals from lemon (Citrus limon) seeds using sulfuric acid hydrolysis and oxidation methods

Abstract In this study, the lemon (Citrus limon) seeds as typical agricultural processing wastes were utilized to extract cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) by sulfuric acid hydrolysis (S-LSCNC), ammonium persulfate oxidation (A-LSCNC) and TEMPO oxidation (T-LSCNC). The properties of CNCs were comparatively investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), and atomic force microscope (AFM), and the application in Pickering emulsions was also preliminarily studied. The results showed that all CNCs maintained cellulose Iβ structure and had a good dispersion regardless of extraction methods. Differently, T-LSCNC had a higher yield, larger size and lower CrI than A-LSCNC and S-LSCNC. Comparatively, A-LSCNC showed the highest CrI and S-LSCNC showed the lowest size. For the application of Pickering emulsions, S-LSCNC and A-LSCNC showed a better ability as Pickering stabilizers than T-LSCNC. This study is beneficial for developing the potential utilization of CNCs from lemon by-products.