Extracción de celulosa a partir de estiércol de vaca y conejo mediante procesos fisicoquímicos y mecánicos para la elaboración de filtros

Abstract

Cellulose, a highly bioavailable polymer, is primarily obtained from wood species, with a projected global demand of 142 billion tons by 2030. This increase in consumption, driven by various industries, poses risks to biodiversity due to forest expansion. To address this issue, the feasibility of extracting cellulose from manure generated by the livestock and rabbit farming sector was explored. The cellulose recovery from manure was carried out using the alkaline pulping method with sodium hydroxide; a pressing process was employed for the production of cellulose filters. Additionally, the filters underwent various feasibility tests to demonstrate their efficiency. Despite the challenges of the process, cellulose extraction yields of 45.07 percent, 32.18 percent, and 40 percent were achieved from rabbit, cow, and a mixture of both manures, respectively. The cellulose pulp exhibited optimal pH values between 7.9 and 8.20, with alpha cellulose contents exceeding 75 percent in all three treatments. The filters-maintained sterility with optimal levels of moisture (less than 1 percent) and ashes (less than 4.5 percent) over time. IR spectra indicated similarities with commercial cellulose, with variations attributable to the animal diet and intestinal microbiota. Ultimately, the filters demonstrated an efficiency exceeding 81 percent in retaining particles larger than 0.0625 mm.