Synthesis and Characterization of Magnetic Cellulose Powder from Sawdust Waste

Timber industry waste is being examined for cellulose manufacturing to give important benefits. The study’s goal is to investigate the properties of cellulose powder derived from sawdust waste after it has been reinforced with ferrous-ferric oxide nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄-NPs). Sawdust cellulose powder was produced from Sengon (Albizia chinensis) wood waste in this study. The crushed sawdust waste is handled with alkalization and bleaching. Cellulose powder is then reinforced with Fe₃O₄-NPs at 10 wt.%, 20 wt.%, and 30 wt.%. The magnetic cellulose powder was analysed by X-ray diffraction, Fourier Transform Infrared, scanning electron microscopy morphology, magnetic vibrating sample magnetometer, Brunauer-Emmett teller, and adsorption tests for Methylene Blue and Congo Red dyes. Structure study identifies sawdust as cellulose 1β, with peaks at 14°, 16°, and 22° diffraction angles. The addition of Fe₃O₄-NPs reduces the crystalline index of sawdust cellulose powder from 68.50% to 63.38%, and functional group bond analysis revealed many peak shifts indicating a change in the chemical bonds of magnetic cellulose powder. Incorporating Fe₃O₄-NPs into sawdust cellulose powder confers magnetic and superparamagnetic properties to the sawdust cellulose. Similarly, the surface texture of magnetic cellulose seems rougher as the surface area increases. These parameters imply a 31.8% increase in Congo Red adsorption, using adsorption kinetics based on the pseudo-first-order model.