Nanochemistry and Nanobiotechnology
Extraction of organosolv pulp and nanocellulose from post-harvest residues of corn 
Barbash V.A.1, Yashchenko O.V.1, Yakymenko O.S. 1, Horianoi V.A.1, Myshak V.D.2
1 Department of Ecology and Technology of Plant Polymers, National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, Prospect Peremogy, 37, Kyiv-03056, Ukraine. E-mail: v.barbash@kpi.ua
2 Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine.

Nanocellulose is a biodegradable material with high mechanical strength, transparency and chemical resistance, light weight and low coefficient of thermal expansion. Nanocellulose is widely used in industry to increase the mechanical strength and improve the barrier properties of paper and cardboard, polymer and cement composites, electric batteries and sorbents [1]. The study described the extraction of nanocellulose from corn pulp (OCP), obtained by environmentally friendly organosolv method of delignification of post-harvest corn residues by extraction with NaOH solution and cooking using a mixture of acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide [2]. A stable transparent nanocellulose gel was extracted from OCP by acid hydrolysis followed by ultrasonic treatment. It was found that an increase in the consumption of sulfuric acid, temperature and duration of the OCP hydrolysis process improves the quality indicators of corn nanocellulose. This dependence of nanocellulose quality indicators on the technological parameters of the hydrolysis process is typical for nanocellulose from other representatives of renewable plant materials (wheat straw, reeds, flax, hemp, kenaf, miscanthus) [3].
Morphological (SEM), structural (FTIR and XRD) and thermal characterization (TGA) of non-wood plant raw materials, OP and nanocellulose were carried out. Nanosizes of nanocellulose were confirmed by AFM and TEM methods. The values of particle sizes of nanocellulose and their mechanical properties (density, tensile strength) and transparency were established.

1.	Reshmy R., Philip E., Paul S .et al. Nanocellulose-based products for sustainable applications: recent trends and possibilities. Rev Environ Sci Biotechnol.-2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11157-020-09551-z.
2.	Barbash V., Yashchenko O., Gondovska O., Yakymenko O. Nanocellulose from reed stalks to improve the properties of paper for packaging food products // KPI Science News.-2021.-2.P. 90-96.
3.	Barbash V., Yaschenko O. Preparation, Properties and Use of Nanocellulose from Non-Wood Plant Materials. DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.94272.