Economics of extracting cellulose from cornhusks for industrial applications

Cellulose fibers with lengths from 2 mm to 20 cm were extracted from cornhusks. These fibers are suitable for various applications, e.g., as textiles, composites, and fiber reinforced foams, and also as a source for ethanol. A unique fiber extraction process using chemicals and enzymes was developed, which was low cost and eco friendly. The extracted fibers contained ∼ 80 % cellulose and ∼ 25 % fiber yield could be obtained from the cornhusks. The economics of producing cellulose from cornhusks in relation to the various end use applications were evaluated. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 228th ACS National Meeting (Philadelphia, PA, 8/22-26/2004).