COMPARATIVE PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF CELLULOSE-RICH FIBERS DERIVED FROM FOUR AVOCADO (PERSEA AMERICANA) CULTIVARS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22159/ijap.2026v18i4.57732Keywords:
Avocado, Cellulose, Prebiotic, Fibres, Probiotic, Functional foodsAbstract
Objective: This study aims to isolate and characterise cellulose-rich fibres in four cultivars of avocado (Persea americana). There were four varieties, hass, bacon, maluma, and zutano, which determine the physicochemical properties that are relevant to their future use.
Methods: The manual extraction protocol-based procedure has used a sieve system to isolate the fibres. In the context of a protocol, the naturally ripened avocado pulp has been extracted from four varieties of avocados, which is then subjected to a series of analytical methods that include fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, coupled with field-emission scanning electron microscopy, coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and x-ray diffraction.
Results: FTIR analysis confirms the presence of characteristics related to cellulose functional groups, including hydroxyl, aliphatic C-H, and glycosidic linkages. The FESEM imaging revealed cultivars compact fibrillar structures, while maluma and zutano exhibited more irregular and porous surfaces. TGA demonstrated differences in thermal stability among cultivars, with bacon fibers exhibiting the highest degradation temperature (367 ± 4 °C), followed by Hass (359 ± 3 °C). XRD analysis future indicated variation in crystallinity index, ranging from approximately 61% in bacon to 49% in maluma.
Conclusion: This study provides a material-level picture and understanding of fundamental characterisation that proves the value of avocado-derived cellulose fibres to have physicochemical attributes that can be used in future applications.
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