Integral use of pepper stems

Pepper stems were treated for its integral utilization. Characterization of original pepper stems (63.4% holocellulose, 23.3% hemicelluloses, 25.6% lignin) was done according to standards methods. In this work, the valorisation of these components was studied. Hemicelluloses fraction recovered from the hydrolsated pepper stems presented xylose and glucose as the main simple sugars, representing 39% and 19.9% of total sugars content in the autohydrolysis hydrolysates and 59.8% and 16% in the acid hydrolysates respectively. Physical properties of paper sheets formed with soda pulp from pre-hydrolysated pepper stems were measured with high 76 °SR value, and cellulose and lignin fractions from pulp and black liquor were recovered respectively. Cellulose was characterized by ATR-IR to complete the chemical structure analysis. Lignin isolated from the liquid was submitted to ATR-IR, 1H NMR, GPC and TGA in order to suggest suitable applications based on its physicochemical properties.

► Pepper stems were treated for its integral utilization.
► Glucose and xylose were the main components in hemicellulosic.
► Paper sheets with high °SR value were obtained with hydrolysated pepper stems and treated with soda cooking.
► Cellulose was characterized to be used in applications different to pulp and paper.
► Lignin: high residue, guaiacyl and syringyl type units, and high molecular weight.