Synthesis of cellulose derivatives obtained from invasive species for their use as soil improvers

Abstract

The search for alternative materials to improve soil quality and properties is an urgent necessity given the level of soil degradation that exists worldwide. In this work, the synthesis of carboxymethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose hydrogels, and rayon fibers derived from cellulose extracted from two invasive species, Typha spp. and Phragmites australis, was carried out. The yield of cellulose obtained from the biomass of the invasive species was on average 56%, of carboxymethylcellulose 95.5%, and for every gram of this latter, 3.4 g of hydrogel was obtained. The extraction of rayon was more variable, achieving better results with cellulose from P. australis with carboxymethylcellulose (99%). The chemical nature of the synthesis products was confirmed through infrared spectra. To analyze effects on soil microorganisms, tests were performed with Pseudomonas putida TL36, a plant growth-promoting bacterium, indicating that the polymers are harmless to the bacteria. Our results indicate that it is feasible to obtain potentially useful polymers for the restoration of degraded soils from cellulose of invasive plant species.