Caracterização da fibra do fruto do pau-de-balsa (Ochroma pyramidale)

Abstract

The worry about environment is something that passes through all areas of research. The vegetal fibers have great importance due its versatility and applicability. Aiming this, it was realized that the fiber of the fruit from balsa has not been studied yet. So, the objective of this study was making a characterization by physical-chemical, thermic and by morphological analysis, aiming get knowledge about its properties and possible applications. It was observed the percentage of main components of this fiber corresponded with the values found on literature, showing around 39% of cellulose, 28% of hemicellulose and 32% of lignin. By dTG, it was identified three peaks of degradation well defined to the sample in natura, relative to its main lignocellulosic components; and in the sample pulp, it was discovered the attempt to isolate cellulose of the fiber, corresponded the expectations and degraded between expected temperature range. By the Scanning Electron Microcopy (SEM), was observed its morphology is tubular with smooth surface and uniform diameters. All these results in potential to thermic isolating, reinforcement in composites, nitrocellulose for explosives, cellulose acetates, pharmaceutical and food excipient, ink, ethanol and other alcohols, adhesives, agglutinative, vanillin, among others.