Production of Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) From Rubber Seed (Hevea brasiliensis) Shells

Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) is a cellulose derivative utilized as a thickener in food processing, as well as in non-food items including paints and detergents. In this study, CMC was produced from cellulose which was obtained from rubber seed shells (RSS). The CMC was produced from cellulose by mercerization with 30% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution and etherified using monochloroacetic acid. Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to characterize the CMC produced therein. The amount of cellulose extracted from RSS was 55.15 %. The broad spectrum of the FTIR indicated the presence of hydroxyl, ether and carboxyl functional groups at 3442.00 cm-1, 1420 cm-1, and 1625 cm-1 respectively. These results showed favourable comparisons with the commercial CMC, which demonstrates that RSS is a promising raw material for the manufacture of CMC.