Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Obtaining and Optimization of Cellulose Pulp from Leaves of Agave tequilana Weber Var. Blue. Preparation of Handmade Craft Paper

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Waste and Biomass Valorization Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Cellulose pulp was obtained by two processes, alkaline (NaOH) and acid (Organosolv), from residual leaves of Agave tequilana. The objective of this work was to find an added value to the agave leaves, which are a waste of the tequila industry in Mexico. In the acid pulping method, higher cellulose yields were obtained than in the alkaline pulping method; however, the decrease in the content of lignin (34–62%) or of the hemicelluloses present in the precursor was not achieved, even after bleaching. In the alkaline pulping method, lower cellulose yields were obtained; after bleaching, 95–98% of the lignin and all of the hemicelluloses were removed. The XRD patterns showed that the percentage of crystallinity of both pulps was similar with values of 49.88% for the alkaline pulping and 48.43% for the acid pulping. It was found that the percentage of moisture absorption is related to the percentage of crystallinity and the content of hemicelluloses, since when the percentage of crystallinity decreases the content of hemicelluloses and the percentage of moisture absorption increases. The papers obtained by the alkaline pulping method showed a lower percentage of humidity and greater tension resistance.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. García Curbelo, Y., López, M.G., Bocourt, L.: Fructanos en Agave fourcroydes, potencialidades para su utilización en la alimentación animal. Rev. Cuba. Cienc. Agrícola. 43(2), 175–177 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  2. NORMA Oficial Mexicana NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010: Protección ambiental-Especies nativas de México de flora y fauna silvestres-Categorías de riesgo y especificaciones para su inclusión, exclusión o cambio-Lista de especies en riesgo (2010)

  3. López Soto, J.L., Ruiz Corral, J.A., Sánchez González, J.D.J., Lépiz Ildefonso, R.: Adaptación climática de 25 especies de frijol silvestre (Phaseolus spp) en la República Mexicana. Rev. Fitotec. Mex. 28, 221–230 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Nobel, P.S.: Environmental Biology of Agaves and Cacti, p. 270. Cambridge University Press, New York (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  5. FAO: FAO Agriculture Series, No. 27. ISSN 0081–4539. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (1994)

  6. Jonsson, L., Martín, C.: Pretreatment of lignocellulose: formation of inhibitory by-products and strategies for minimizing their effects. Bioresour. Technol. 199, 103–112 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Nava-Cruz, N.Y., Medina-Morales, M.A., Martinez, J.L., Rodriguez, R., Aguilar, C.N.: Agave biotechnology: an overview. Crit. Rev. Biotechnol. 35(4), 546–549 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Pandey, K.K.: A study of chemical structure of soft and hardwood and wood and polymers by FTIR spectroscopy. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 71, 1969–1975 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Sinha-Ray, S., Yarin, A.L., Pourdeyhimi, B.: Meltblown fiber mats and their tensile strength. Polymer. 55, 4241–4247 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Moniz, P., Lino, J., Duarte, L.C., Roseilo, L.B., Boeiru, C.G., Pereira, H., Cravalheiro, F.: Fractionation of hemicelluloses and lignin from rice straw by combining autohydrolysis and optimized mild Organosolv delignification. Bioresources. 10(2), 263–2641 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Escoto-García, T., Vivanco-Castellanos, E. M., Lomelí-Ramírez, M. G., Arias-García, A.: Tratamiento fermentativo-químico-mecánico del bagazo de maguey (Agave tequilana Weber) para su aplicación en papel hecho a mano. Rev. Mex. Ing. Quím. 5(1), 23–27 (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Montañez, S.J., Venegas, G.J., Vivar, V.M., Ramos, R.E.: Extracción, caracterización y cuantificación de los fructanos contenidos en la cabeza y en las hojas del Agave tequilana. Weber Azul. Bioagro. 3(23), 199–206 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Vinnet, E., Fajardo, O.: Estrategia para el mejoramiento genético de Agaves en Cuba. Temas de Ciencia y Tecnología, enero – abril, pp. 37–43 (2009)

  14. Iñiguez-Covarrubias, G., Lange, S.E., Rowell, R.M.: Utilization of byproducts from the tequila industry: part 2 potential value of Agave tequilana Weber azul leaves. Biores. Technol. 77, 101–108 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Narvaez, Z.J. y T.F. Sanchez. 2009. Agaves as a raw material, recent technologies and applications. Recent Pat. Biotechnol. 3(3), 1–7.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Parra, L.A., del Villar, P., Prieto, A.: Extracción de fibras de agave para elaborar papel y artesanías. Acta Univ. 20, 77–83 (2010) Número especial 3

    Google Scholar 

  17. Sanjay, M.R., Arpitha, G.R., Laxmana Naik, L., Gopalakrishna, K., Yogesha, B.: Applications of natural fibers and its composites: an overview. Nat. Resour. 7, 108–114 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  18. [SAGARPA: Diario Oficial de la Federación 2 de mayo de 2014, Edición Vespertina, Única Sección: Se aprueba el Programa Especial Concurrente para el Desarrollo Rural Sustentable 2014–2018 (2014)

  19. Camejo-Rodrigues, J.C., Ascensão, L., Ángel-Bonet, M., Valles, J.: An ethnobotanical study of medicinal and aromatic plants in the Natural Park of “Serra de São Mamede” (Portugal). J. Ethnopharmacol. 89, 199–209 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. García Mendoza, A. J.: Distribution of the genus Agave (Agavaceae) and its endemic species in Mexico. Cact. Succ. J. 74, 177–187 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Rosas, M.E., Fernández, J.L.: FTIR aplicada durante la deshidratación osmótica de mango Ataulfo (Magnífera indica L.). Superficies y Vacío. 25(1) 8–13 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  22. AOAC: Association of Official Analytical Chemists. Official Methods of Analysis, p. 1117, 15 (Edn.). AOAC, Arlington (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  23. TAPPI.: Tappi Test Methods. Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry. TAPPI, Atlanta (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Ávila Núñez, R., Rivas Pérez, B., Hernández Motzezak, R., Chirinos, M.: Contenido de azúcares totales, reductores y no reductores en Agave cocui Trelease. Multiciencias. 12(2), 129–135 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Park, C.H., Han, S.Y., Choi, S.K., Lee, S.H.: Preparation and properties of holocelluloce nanofibrils with different hemicelluloce contains. Bioresources. 12(3), 6298–6308 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  26. NMX-N-22-1988. Método de prueba para la determinación de alfa, beta, gamma celulosa, en pulpas para papel y cartón

  27. Selig, M. J., Viamajala, S., Decker, S. R., Tucker, M. P., Himmel, M. E., & Vinzant, T. B.: Deposition of lignin droplets produced during dilute acid pretreatment of maize stems retards enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose. Biotechnol. Prog. 23(6), 1333–1339 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Qi, L., Lei, Y., Yuangang, Z., Minghua, Z., Ying, Z., Xiunan, Z., Rongrui, Z., Zhen, S., Jinming, H., Xiaoanan, Z., Wengang, L.: Investigation of the effects of different Organosolv pulping methods on antioxidant capacity and extraction efficiency of lignin. Food Chem. 131, 313–317 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Djarwanto, Tachibana, S.: Decomposition of lignin and holocellulose on Acacia mangium leaves and twigs by six fungal isolates from nature. Pak. J. Biol. Sci. 13, 604–610 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. De Naranjo, CDD, Alamilla-Beltrán, L, Gutiérrez-Lopez, G.F., Terres-Rojas, E., Solorza-Feria, J., Romero-Vargas, S., Yee-Madeira, H.T., Flores-Morales, A., Mora-Escobedo, R.: Aislamiento y caracterización de celulosas obtenidas de fibras de Agave salmiana aplicando dos métodos de extracción ácido-alcali. Rev. Mex. Cienc. Agrícolas 7, 31–43 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Velasco, P., Soengas, P., Vilar, M., Cartea, M.E., del Rio, M.: Comparison of glucosinolate profiles in leaf and seed tissues of different Brassica napus crops. J. Am. Soc. Hort. Sci. 133(4), 551–558 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Reyes-Agüero, J.A., Aguirre-Rivera, J.R., Peña-Valdivia, C.B.: Biología aprovechamiento de Agave lechuguilla Torr. Boletín de la Sociedad Botánica de México. 67, 75–88 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  33. Sravan Kumar, S., Manoj, P., Giridhar, P.: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis, chlorophyll content and antioxidant properties of native and defatted foliage of green leafy vegetables. J Food Sci Technol. 52(12), 8131–8139 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-015-1959-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. [Vega-Baudrit, J., Sibaja, M.B., Nikolaeva, S.N., Rivera, A.A.: Síntesis y caracterización de celulosa amorfa a partir de triacetato de celulosa. Rev. Soc. Quím. Perú. 80(1), 45–50 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  35. Carrier, M., Loppinet-Serani, A., Denux, D., Lasnier, J.M., Ham-Pichavant, F., Cansell, F., Aymonier, C.: Thermogravimetric analysis as a new method to determine the lignocellulosic composition of biomass. Biomass Bioenergy. 35, 298–307 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. [Müller-Hagedorn, M., Bockhorn, H., Krebs, L., Müller, U.: 2003. A comparative kinetic study on the pyrolysis of three different wood species. J. Anal. Appl. Pyrolysis, 68–69, 231–249

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Manals, E., Pinedo, M., Giralt-Ortega, G.: Análisis termogravimetrico y térmico diferencial de diferentes biomasas vegetales. Tecnol. Quím. 31(2), 36–43 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  38. Acelas, N., Ruiz, W., López, D.: Determinación de los parámetros cinéticos en la pirólisis del pino ciprés. Quim. Nova 33(7), 1500–1505 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. White, J.E., Catallo, W.J., Legendre, B.L.: Biomass pyrolysis kinetics: a comparative critical review with relevant agricultural residue case studies. J. Anal. Appl. Pyrolysis 91(1), 1–33 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaap.2011.01.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Bolio G.I., Valadez A., Valeva, L. Andreeva, A.: Cellulose whiskers from agro-industrial banana wastes: isolation and characterization. Rev. Mex. Ing. Quím. 10(2), 291–299 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  41. Hidalgo-Reyes, M., Caballero-Caballero, M., Hernández-Gómez, L. H., Urriolagoitia-Calderón, G.: Chemical and morphological characterization of Agave angustifolia bagasse fibers. Bot. Sci. 93(4), 807–817 (2015). https://doi.org/10.17129/botsci.250

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Wang, X., Thibodeau, B., Trope, M., Lin, L.M., Huang, G.T.J.: Histologic characterization of regenerated tissues in canal space after the revitalization/revascularization procedure of immature dog teeth with apical periodontitis. J Endod. 36, 56 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Ayrilmis, N., Jarusombuti, S., Fueangvivat, V., Bauchongkol, P.: Effect of thermal-treatment of wood fibres on properties of flat-pressed wood plastic composites. Polym. Degrad. Stab. 96, 818–822 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. López-Martínez, A., Bolio-López, G.I., Veleva, L., Solórzano-Valencia, M., Acosta-Tejada, G., Hernández-Villegas, M.M., Salgado-Garcia, S., Córdova-Sánchez, S.: Obtaining cellulose from sugar cane (Saccharum spp.) pulp. Agroproductividad 9(7), 41–45 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  45. Silos-Espino, H., Tovar-Robles, C.L., González-Cortés, N., Méndez-Gallegos, S.J., Rossel-Kipping, D.: Estudio integral del maguey (Agave salmiana): propagacion y valor nutricional. Revista de Saul Pública y Nutrición. Edición Especial No 5. 75–82. (ISSN 1870 – 0160) (2011)

  46. Fioretto, A., Di Nardo, C., AmodioFuggi, P.A.: Lignin and cellulose degradation and nitrogen dynamics during decomposition of three leaf litter species in a Mediterranean ecosystem. Soil Biol. Biochem. 37(6), 1083–1091 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Wang, N. Nobel, P.S.: Phloem transport of fructans in the Crasssulacean acid Metabolism species Agave deserti. Plant Physiol. 116, 709–714 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Saengthongpinit, W., Sajjaanantakul, T.: Influence of harvest time and storage temperature on characteristics of inulin from Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) tubers. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 37(1), 93–100 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Ramírez-Cortina, C.R., Alonso-Gutiérrez, M.S., Rigal, L.: Valorización de residuos agroindustriales del tequila para alimentacion de Rumiantes. Revista Chapingo. Serie Ciencias Forestales y del Ambiente, 18(3), 449–457 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Peña–Valdivia, C.B., Sánchez–Urdaneta, A.B., Aguirre, J.R., Trejo, R.C., Cárdenas, E., Villegas, A.: Temperature and mechanical scarification on seed germination of “maguey” (Agave salmiana Otto ex Salm–Dyck). Seed Sci. Technol. 34, 47–56 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. CRT.: Principales enfermedades en el cultivo del agave. In: Virgen-Calleros, G., García-Galindo, J., Peréz-Mejía, F. (eds.) Sub-comité Línea Fitosanidad. Consejo Regulador del Tequila, A.C, 24 p. https://www.crt.org.mx. Agosto de 2015 (2009)

  52. Veveris, C., Georghiou, K., Christodoulakis, N., Santas, P., Santas, R.: Fiber dimensions, lignin and cellulose content of various plant materials and their suitability for paper production. Ind. Crops Prod. 19, 245–254 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Yang, X., Cushman, J.C., Borland, A.M., Edwards, E.J., Wullschleger, S.D., Tuskan, G.A.: A roadmap for research on crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) to enhance sustainable food and bioenergy production in a hotter, drier world. New Phytol. 207, 491–504 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.13393

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Li, G., Fu, S.H., Zhou, A., Zhan, H.: Improved cellulose yield in the production of dissolving pulp from bamboo using acetic acid in prehydrolysis. Bioresources. 10(1), 877–886 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. Kestur, G.S., Flores-Sahagún, T.H.S., Pereira Dos Santos, L., Dos Santos, J., Mazzaroc, I., Mikowski, A.: Characterization of blue agave bagasse fibers of Mexico. Composites. 45, 153–161 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. Young, R.A.: Processing of agro-based resources into pulp and paper. In: Rowell, R.M., Young, R.A., Rowell, J.K. (eds.) Paper and Composites from Agro-based Resources, pp. 137–245. CRC Press/Lewis Publishers, New York (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  57. Escamilla, R.F., Macleod, T.D., Wilk, K.E., Paulos, L., Andrews, J.R.: Anterior cruciate ligament strain and tensile forces for weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing exercises: a guide to exercise selection. J. Orthop. Sports Phys. Ther. 42(3), 208–220 (2012). https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2012.3768

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Madakadze, I.C., Coulman, B.E., McElroy, A.R., Stewart, K.A., Smith, D.L.: Evaluation of selected warm-season grasses for biomass production in areas with a short growing season. Biores. Technol. 65, 1–12 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1016/S0960-8524(98)00039-X

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. Li, H., Foston, M.B., Kumar, M.B., Samuel, R., Gao, X., Hu, F., Ragauskas, A.J., Wyman, C.E.F.: Chemical composition and characterization of cellulose for Agave as a fast-growing, drought-tolerant biofuels feedstock. RSC Adv. 11, 4951–4958 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  60. Fernández-Rodríguez, J., Robles, E., Gordobil, O., González-Alriols, M., Labidi, J.: Lignin valorisation from sidestreams produced during agriculture waste pulping and tcf bleaching. Chem. Eng. Trans. 52, 187–192 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  61. González, S.M., Soto, N.O., Rutiaga, O.M., Medrano, H., Rutiaga, J.G., López, J.: Optimización del proceso de hidrólisis enzimática de una mezcla de pajas de frijol cuatro variedades (Pinto villa, Pinto saltillo, Pinto mestizo y Flor de mayo). Rev. Mex. Ing. Quím. 10(1), 17–28 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  62. Hahn-Hagerdal, B., Galbe, M., Gorwa-Grauslund, M.F., Zacchi, G.: Bioethanol, the fuel tomorrow from the residues of today. Trends Biothecnol. 24, 549–556 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  63. Viloria, P.R., Marfisi, S., Rondón, P.O., Rojas, B.: Obtención de celulosa microcristalina a partir de desechos agrícolas del cambur (Musa sapientum). Síntesis de celulosa microcristalina. Rev. Iberoam. Polím. 15(6), 286–300 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  64. Chávez-Sifontes, M., Domine, M.E.: Lignina, estructura y aplicaciones: Métodos de despolimerización para la obtención de derivados aromáticos de interés industrial. Av. Cien. Ing. 4(4), 15–46 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  65. Wang, B., Sain, M., Oskman, K.: Study of structural morphology of hemp fiber from the micro to the nanoscale. Appl. Compos. Mater. 14, 89–103 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  66. López, J., Álvarez, A., Sebio, T., Zaragoza, S., Álvarez, B., Díaz, A.M., Janeiro, J., Artiaga, R.: 2016. Kinetics of thermal degradation of cellulose: analysis based on isothermal and linear heating data. Bioresources 11(3), 5870–5888

    Google Scholar 

  67. [Martín Sampedro, R., Eugenio, M.E., Moreno, J.A., Revilla, E., Villa, J.C.: Integration of a kraft pulping mill into a forest biorefinery: pre-extraction of hemicellulose by steam explosion versus steam treatment. Bioresour. Technol. 153, 236–244 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  68. Mazzeo, M., León, L., Mejía, L.F., Guerrero, L.E., Botero, J.D.: Aprovechamiento industrial de residuos de cosecha y poscosecha de plátano en el departamento de Caldas. Rev. Educ. Ing. 9, 128–139 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  69. López, Tapia, del Pilar, M.: Documentos y obre gráfica en papel. En Martha E. Romero Ramírez. Conservación de documentos analógicos y digitales. Ed. Nerea. p. 47. ISBN 978-84-16254-07-1 (2015)

  70. Dhakal, H.N., Zhang, Z.Y., Richardson, M.O.W.: Effect of water absorption on the mechanical properties of hemp fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester composites. Compos. Sci. Technol. 67, 1674–1683 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  71. Hubber, M.A.: Prospects for maintaining strength of paperand paperboard products while using less forest resources: a review. Bioresources. 9(1), 1634–1763 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Área Académica de Química, Instituto de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Carretera Pachuca-Tulancingo, km 4.5, 42076, Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico

    Francisco Prieto-García, Edith Jiménez-Muñoz, Otilio A. Acevedo-Sandoval & Roberto A. Canales-Flores

  2. Instituto de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Carretera Pachuca-Tulancingo, km 4.5, 42076, Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico

    Rodrigo Rodríguez-Laguna & Judith Prieto-Méndez

Authors
  1. Francisco Prieto-García
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Edith Jiménez-Muñoz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Otilio A. Acevedo-Sandoval
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Rodrigo Rodríguez-Laguna
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Roberto A. Canales-Flores
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Judith Prieto-Méndez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Judith Prieto-Méndez.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Prieto-García, F., Jiménez-Muñoz, E., Acevedo-Sandoval, O.A. et al. Obtaining and Optimization of Cellulose Pulp from Leaves of Agave tequilana Weber Var. Blue. Preparation of Handmade Craft Paper. Waste Biomass Valor 10, 2379–2395 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-018-0262-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-018-0262-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation