EXTRACTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CELLULOSE FROM AGRICULTURAL WASTE ARGAN PRESS CAKE

Argan press cake (APC) is a low-cost agricultural waste material generated from the oil production of argan nuts. It is a dark-brown powder containing cellulose and other components, such as hemicelluloses, proteins, and lipids. In this study, an alkaline processing approach consisting of applying a mild cooking treatment at 80 degrees C in a solution containing sodium hydroxide (12%) and sodium sulfate (8%) was developed to extract cellulose from APC. Yellowish cellulose pulp was thereof obtained and was further subjected to an H0PH1Ep bleaching operation to enhance the purity of cellulose to a large extent. Sugar analysis, molecular weight analysis and other spectroscopic techniques demonstrated that the extracted cellulose could be classified as cellulose powder that would be qualified for pharmaceutical and food applications.