This is a brief research proposal for extraction of micro-crystalline cellulose from sugarcane stalk pilings

1. OCITI INNOCENT OLUR BU/UG/2016/1725
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF TEXTILE AND GINNING ENGINEERING
RESEARCH METHODS
TEST 1
Submission date: November 14, 2018
STUDENT’S NAME: OCITI INNOCENT OLUR
REG NO.: BU/UG/2016/1725
LECTURED BY:MADAMYVONNE

2. 1 | O C I T I I N N O C E N T O L U R
1.0 TITLE OF THE STUDY
Extraction of Microcrystalline cellulose from sugarcane stalk pilings.
2.0 PROBLEM STATEMENT
Kakira sugar works produced about 600 tons of waste (Vision, 2008). This waste includes
bagasse and sugar cane stalk pilings which researchers have used in producing briquettes,
lyocell, viscose and modal.
All the struggle made by Kakira to either treat this waste or use has just been in vain since the
stench from rotting bagasse is making a 100km radius around Kakira almost inhabitable and
sugarcane stalk pilings is becoming a nuisance to farmers in Kakira when it comes to clearing
land for the next season (Akanya Majid, Agricultural Mechanization and Irrigation Engineering
student, year 3, at Busitema University, 13th November 2018).
Microcrystalline cellulose which is a naturally occurring polymer composed of glucose units
connected by a 1-4 beta glycosidic bond, which is always obtained from refined wood pulp can
be obtained from sugar cane stalk pilings which will be of great service to the management of
Kakira sugar works and the natives surrounding it.
Microcrystalline cellulose has use in cosmetics as an abrasive, absorbent, anti-caking agent,
aqueous viscosity increasing agent, binder, bulking agent, emulsion stabilizer, slip modifier, and
texturizer (S.S.Z, 2016).
3.0 OBJECTIVES
3.1 MAIN OBJECTIVE
Extraction of Microcrystalline cellulose from sugarcane stalk pilings.
3.2 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
To obtain the sample of sugarcane stalk pilings.
To sundry, pound and hydrolyze enzymatically the sugarcane stalk pilings.
To test for the wicking of a fabric treated with microcrystalline cellulose finish
4.0 JUSTIFICATIONS
This research will aid in minimizing the amount of sugar cane pilings as waste in Kakira sugar
works and reduce pollution within Kakira and neighboring places.
This research will reduce the effluent treatment cost at Kakira sugar works, since the sugar cane
stalk pilings will no longer be waste but a raw material.
This research will improve the performance and comfort properties of apparels made from a
blend of cotton and a polyester, since wicking is paramount for wearer’s comfort.

3. 2 | O C I T I I N N O C E N T O L U R
5.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
Sugarcane stalk pilings have been used in producing bioethanol in Brazil which is a good source
of fuel which can be used for running automotive (Magalhães & Braunbeck, 2014). Sugarcane
stalk has also been used for producing regenerated cellulosic fibers like lyocell, modal and
viscose (Davina Michel, 2013).
Microcrystalline cellulose has been obtained from fodder grass; setaria glauca(L) P. Beauv, and
its potential as a Drug delivery technique for isoniazid (Ranjan Dutta Kalita, 2013).
Microcrystalline cellulose has been widely used as an excipient for direct compression due to its
good flowability, compressionability, and compactibility (John Rojas, 2014).
The main reason sugarcane stalk is being used in this research is due to the fact that it is readily
available and it will save the cost of waste disposal.

4. 3 | O C I T I I N N O C E N T O L U R
REFERENCES
Davina Michel, B. B. (2013). Preparation of Cellulosic Fibers from sugarcane for Textile use.
Conference Papers in Materials Science, 2-6.
John Rojas, A. L. (2014). Evaluation of several Microcrystalline cellulose obtained from
agricultural by-products. Journal of advanced pharmaceuticals technology & research 2
(3), 2-144.
Magalhães, P. S., & Braunbeck, O. A. (2014). SUGARCANE AND STRAW HARVESTING.
Sugarcane bioethanol — R&D for Productivity and Sustainability,, 465-476.
Ranjan Dutta Kalita, Y. N. (2013). Extraction and characterisation of microcrystalline cellulose
from fodder grass and its potential as drug delivery vehicle for isoniazid. Colloids and
Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 85-89.
S.S.Z. (2016). Microcrystalline cellulose: Its specifications and pharmaceutical processing.
Biocrystals, 26-38.
Vision, N. (2008). Waste Management. Kampala, Uganda: New Vision Printing and Publishing
Company Limited.