Eco-friendly extraction of high-quality cellulose from water hyacinth via a novel organosolv-alkaline process and response surface methodology approach

The development of environmentally friendly and sustainable cellulose extraction methods is critical for the valorization of aquatic biomass. In this study, a green and efficient approach was employed to isolate high-purity cellulose from water hyacinth (WH) through a combination of organosolv, alkaline, and bleaching treatments. This sequential treatment significantly enhanced the cellulose crystallinity index from 37.92 % to 73.52 % and altered the fiber morphology, resulting in thinner, delaminated structures. Further enhancement in cellulose purity was achieved by optimizing the organosolv process parameters using response surface methodology (RSM) with a face-centered central composite design. Under optimized conditions (1.008 wt% H₂SO₄ as catalyst at 118.6 °C) the process yielded a maximum cellulose purity of 92.98 wt%. The sustainability of the extraction route was assessed through a life cycle analysis (LCA) using the ReCiPe 2016 methodology, revealing minimal environmental impact. A preliminary techno-economic assessment demonstrated the economic feasibility of the process, with an internal rate of return (IRR) of 10.23 %. Overall, this study highlights the potential of WH as a renewable and sustainable source of high-quality cellulose for a wide range of industrial applications.