Title
Chemical, physical, mechanical, thermal and morphological characterization of corn husk residue
Authors
CARLOS AUGUSTO DE CARVALHO MENDES FERNANDO ANTONIO DE OLIVEIRA ADNET MARCIA CHRISTINA AMORIM MOREIRA LEITE CRISTINA RUSSI GUIMARAES FURTADO and ANA MARIA FURTADO DE SOUSA

Received May 7, 2014
Published Volume 49 Issue 9-10 October-December
Keywords corn husk fiber, lignocellulose, residue, characterization waste

Abstract
This work describes the chemical composition, physical characteristics, thermal resistance, mechanical properties, crystallinity index and morphology of corn husk residue collected from disposal areas of small street markets. Each sample was cleaned manually, sun dried, cleaned manually once more, chopped into small pieces, ground in a hammer mill and then classified by a 35 mesh Tyler sieve. The results are discussed and also compared to the characteristics of other lignocellulosic biomass used to produce biofuels and composites. According to the results, corn husk has low lignin content and similar amounts of hemicellulose and α-cellulose to those of the other fibers considered. In addition, the corn husk biomass showed better tensile property than piassava and coir and similar maximum safety temperature to that of caroa and olive husks. The crystallinity index of corn husk was 21-26% and surface morphology showed the presence of a large number of microfibrils in its structure.