Abstract
This study investigates the synthesis and comprehensive characterization of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) derived from Parthenium hysterophorus biomass through acid hydrolysis. Nanocellulose, a versatile nanomaterial sourced from renewable biomass, exhibits exceptional properties suitable for various applications. Acid hydrolysis of cellulose extracted from Parthenium resulted in a significant increase in crystallinity, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), with the nanocellulose exhibiting a crystallinity index of 77%. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed that acid hydrolysis resulted in the alteration of the fibrous and coiled structure of cellulose, resulting in the formation of spherical CNCs. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis of CNC revealed an average diameter of approximately 36-79 nm, demonstrating the impact of acid hydrolysis on morphology. Further characterization using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) indicated the preservation of cellulose chemical structure, while thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed improved thermal stability of the nanocellulose compared to raw biomass post-processing. Zeta potential analysis highlighted strong colloidal stability with a highly negative surface charge (-28.9 ± 6.18 mV), essential for applications requiring dispersion stability. In adsorption studies, the synthesized nanocellulose effectively removed 75% of MG dye from aqueous solutions at room temperature, following pseudo 2nd order kinetics. This research underscores the potential of Parthenium-derived nanocellulose in sustainable materials applications, leveraging invasive weed biomass for eco-friendly nanomaterial production. The findings contribute to advancing sustainable materials research by demonstrating the utility of Parthenium biomass for value-added nanomaterial production, specifically highlighting the enhanced properties and effective adsorption capabilities of the synthesized nanocellulose.