Modified biodelignification method by sequential fungal treatment with sonication followed by hydrothermal processing in microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) production from sengon wood sawdust

Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) is a valuable material produced from sengon wood sawdust (SWS). Conventionally, the material is produced by combination base treatment for delignification and acid treatment for hydrolysis. This method will cost a high waste treatment duty that reduces fabrication efficiency and sustainability. Biodelignification by fungal treatment is an eco-friendly method that can reduce the lignin content of lignocellulosic material. Hydrothermal is an excellent hydrolysis method that can be modified by sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) solution addition to lignin derivative residue binding. Therefore, this study set out to investigate the modified biodelignification method that is combined with hydrothermal in NaOCl as a bleaching agent to produce MCC from SWS. From the result, the fungal treatment can reduce the lignin content to 0.85% within 50 days of treatment and increase the cellulose content to 50.60%. The MCC from SWS addition was successfully produced by the hydrothermal process with NaOCl solution with a cellulose content of 62.45% and relative crystallinity degree (RCD) of 79.446%.