Natural Cellulose Fibers from the Stems of Chrysanthemum Indicum

Abstract

We present a comprehensive approach to utilize the residues of Chrysanthemum indicum as a source for natural cellulose fibers and carbon for removal of dyes and other pollutants. C. indicum is one of the most common sources for flowers for conventional decoration and also for various chemicals and essential oils. However, flowers form only a part of the plant and the leaves and stems are the major components in terms of weight. The stems and leaves are generally considered as waste and disposed. In this study, we have utilized the stems as a source of natural cellulose fibers. Further, the fibers were carbonized and activated with KOH to improve porosity and pore size. Natural cellulose fibers obtained from the stems were shorter compared to cotton, jute or other common lignocellulosic fibers. However, good strength (121 MPa) and high elongation (14%) make the fibers similar to wool and suitable for developing textiles and composites. The fibers were able to sorb up to 95% of methylene blue within 24 hours under ambient conditions. Carbon obtained from the fibers after activating with 2:1 ratio of KOH has surface area of about 1450 m2/g and a highly porous structure preferable for sorption and energy storage applications. The activated carbon was able to sorb up to 148 mg of dye per gram of activated carbon. Utilizing the C. indicum stems as a source of fibers and carbon will help to further develop sustainable chemicals and materials for commodity applications.

Keywords

• chrysanthemum indicum stems
• natural cellulose fibers
• activated carbon
• methylene blue