The obtaining microcrystallinecellulose (MCC) from different natural fiber sources and researching of composite film production opportunities from these

The traditional petroleum-based composite materials started to give way to bio-based composite materials from now on because of limited resources, not stabil costs and environmental impressions. In addition to these, in Turkey, approximately 35-40 million ton plantal wastes emerge every years. However it isn't used to most of them properly. Whereas, bio-based composite materials which will be produced from this type of wastes are very important not only to protect forest areas but also to utilise effectively from agricultural residues. In this study, composite film production possibilities from microcrystallinecellulose (MCC) which was obtained by using wheat straw, rice stalk and hemp was researched. Microcrystallinecellulose (MCC) was acquired from wheat straw, rice stalk and hemp raw materials by using two different chemical methods (as 1. method 17,5% NaOH, in 3 different time 1 M HCl including 8, 16 and 24 hours, 2% NaOH treatments and as 2. method 90% CH2O2, CH2O3 (CH2O2/H2O2 : 2/1), 17,5% NaOH, 16% H2SO4 treatments) and 2 different mechanic method (as 1. method liquid nitrogen and high pressure, ultrasonication process, as 2. method in more time only ultrasonication process) and their morphologic and characteristic features were determined with SEM, TGA, FTIR and XRD analyses. After that the composite films were produced from these MCC which was homogenised as solution and their physical properties were determined by doing the tensile, colour variance and thermal experiments of these films. In consequence of carried out analyses and reached results it was observed that the diameters of obtained MCC changed between 400 nm – 7 µm depending on used natural fiber resources and production methods. The vibration peaks C-H, O-H, H-C-H etc. which were situated in structure of MCCs and which comprise building blocks of cellulose were determined. MCCs were distilled by removing amorphous zones of cellulose with alkaline and acid treatments and it was encountered to maximum crystallinity index as 77,14% in hemp sample, treated with 24 hours HCl. It was confirmed the burning temperatures of MCCs were nearly 380o as a result of removal of hemicellulose, lignin and pectin materials. As a results of done mechanical tests, it was determined that in obtained composite films, produced films from wheat straw samples which treated with 2. method have the highest tensile strength values and as for produced films from rice stalk samples which treated with 2. method have the highest elongation values in longitudinal direction. The addition of purified MCCs didn't cause any influence to the burning temperatures of composite films and it was found nearly same values in all of the samples. Consequently, it has been seen that MCC which was obtained from different natural fiber resources is suitable to production of bio-based composite films. Furthermore, with previous studies it will be discussed that they substitute to traditional petroleum-based composite materials and also practicability to daily use of them. Key Words: Bio-based composite materials, herbal waste, microcrystallinecellulose