Enhancing quality of Cellulose Isolated from Banana Peels incorporating use of Microwave radiation over conventional method

Abstract

Cellulose, a renewable biopolymer, can be sustainably recovered from agricultural residues such as banana peels, which are abundantly available but often discarded as waste. Conventional methods of cellulose extraction are labor-intensive, require prolonged heating, and consume significant amounts of chemicals, posing environmental and economic challenges. In this study, a microwave-assisted approach was investigated for cellulose isolation from banana peels and compared with conventional thermal treatment under identical chemical conditions. The process involved sequential liquefaction, delignification, and bleaching, with microwave radiation applied at 600 W. Results revealed that microwave-assisted extraction significantly enhanced efficiency, yielding 86.43% cellulose compared to ~83% obtained conventionally, while reducing the total processing time from 455 minutes to 14 minutes. FTIR analysis confirmed the effective removal of lignin and hemicellulose, XRD analysis indicated retention of cellulose structure with a crystallinity index of 56.8%, and SEM observations demonstrated smoother, cleaner, and similar morphology in microwave-treated cellulose compared to conventionally processed samples. The findings highlight that microwave radiation provides not only superior cellulose purity and structural quality but also considerable advantages in energy efficiency and process sustainability. The cellulose obtained is suitable for applications in packaging, composites, and nanocellulose production. This study establishes microwave-assisted treatment as a scalable, eco-friendly, and time-efficient alternative to conventional processes for the valorization of banana peel waste into high-value cellulose.