Extraction of cellulose from palm tree wastes and its use in the production of composite materials

In this thesis study, the extraction, characterization, and potential application areas of cellulose and its derivatives one of the renewable and sustainable biomaterials were investigated. As the research material, dried and ground leaves of Chamaerops humilis, commonly known in Türkiye as the "Mediterranean dwarf palm," and located in the garden of the Chemistry Laboratory of the Environmental Engineering Department at Çukurova University, were utilized. The palm leaves were initially washed with water to remove dust and foreign substances, then cut into small pieces, dried under appropriate conditions to reach a low moisture content, and finally ground into a fine powder. A total of 6 kg of palm material was collected and processed. During the cellulose extraction process, alkaline (NaOH) and oxidative (H₂O₂) treatments were applied. The cellulose yield was calculated as 11.54%. Additionally, the yield of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) synthesized from 2 grams of cellulose was determined to be 66.5%, while that of cellulose acetate was 82%. These results indicate that the methods used were highly efficient.The physical and chemical properties of the obtained materials were analyzed using pH measurements, solubility tests, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The analyses showed that the products had high purity and were free from harmful chemical residues. These findings demonstrate that the produced biomaterials are environmentally friendly and suitable for industrial applications.Moreover, the cellulose derivatives obtained were found to be biodegradable, indicating their potential applicability in various sectors such as biomedical, food, and textiles. In conclusion, this study provides significant contributions to the sustainable production and eco-friendly applications of cellulose-based biomaterials.