Structure-function relationships of highly refined cellulose made from agricultural fibrous residues

A process was developed for the conversion of agricultural byproducts into a highly refined cellulose (HRC) with useful properties. Water holding capacity, ability to remove deteriorated deleterious polar substances from edible oil, and microstructures of HRC were investigated. In the process, soy hulls, corn cobs, and husks were subjected to blending and chemical hydrolysis treatments followed by a homogenization, producing a gel-like HRC dispersion. The HRC dispersion possessed a greatly increased water holding capacity compared to untreated fiber (from 175 to 350%). Freeze-drying was used to obtain HRC powders from HRC dispersions. When HRC powder was used as an oil filter aid, it demonstrated higher efficiency at removing polar compounds from oil than two commercial oil filter aids. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that HRC powder had a spongy structure with a largely expanded surface area and much increased pore sizes.