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Study of cellulose extraction from disposable cups for potential application as a reinforcement of engineering polymers

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Abstract

The principal component that can be valorized from waste cups is cellulose fiber since it comprises 95% of bulk. Cellulose can be extracted and processed to obtain high crystallinity degree and improve mechanical properties providing stiffness and strength in polymer matrixes. For this reason, this work contemplates the structural identification of disposable cups, the study of the separation and recovery of components, fiber and polyolefin, while studying three methods (stirring, stirring followed by sonication and grinding) and selecting an optimal method. Poly(ethylene) (PE) and cellulose were structurally identified and recovered by optimal stirring method. Infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis corroborated the extraction of cellulose free of PE coating, which can be processed to obtain a high crystallinity degree and to be proposed for reinforcing bio-, conventional and engineering polymers such as poly (methyl methacrylate)/poly (urethane).

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The datasets analyzed are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

Mayra Elizabeth Juárez Méndez is grateful for her postgraduate fellowship through CONACyT. Authors are also grateful for the financial support provided by Tecnológico Nacional de México—Instituto Tecnológico de Ciudad Madero and Instituto Politécnico Nacional through the SIP2021-0693, -2070, -0691, -0664 and -1379 projects and SNI-CONACyT.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tecnológico Nacional de México, Centro de Investigación en Petroquímica, División de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Prolongación Bahía de Aldair, Parque de la Pequeña y Mediana Industria, Ave. De las Bahías, C.P. 89600, Altamira, Tamaulipas, Mexico

    M. E. Juárez-Méndez & S. B. Brachetti-Sibaja

  2. Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Centro Mexicano Para la Producción Más Limpia (CMP+L), Av. Acueducto s/n, La Laguna Ticomán, C.P. 07340, Ciudad de México, Mexico

    D. Palma-Ramírez & A. I. Flores-Vela

  3. Instituto Politécnico Nacional, UPIIH, km. 1+500, Carretera Pachuca-Actopan, C.P. 42162, San Agustín Tlaxiaca, Hgo, Mexico

    A. M. Torres-Huerta & M. A. Domínguez-Crespo

Authors
  1. M. E. Juárez-Méndez
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  2. D. Palma-Ramírez
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  3. S. B. Brachetti-Sibaja
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  4. A. M. Torres-Huerta
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  5. M. A. Domínguez-Crespo
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  6. A. I. Flores-Vela
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Correspondence to D. Palma-Ramírez.

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Juárez-Méndez, M.E., Palma-Ramírez, D., Brachetti-Sibaja, S.B. et al. Study of cellulose extraction from disposable cups for potential application as a reinforcement of engineering polymers. MRS Advances 6, 881–884 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1557/s43580-021-00152-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/s43580-021-00152-8

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