In this study, chuño starch films were elaborated using acid hydrolysis, which was incorporated with different concentrations of eucalyptus essential oil (EEO). The reinforcement of the films was made by adding microfibers of Stipa obtusa (MFSO), a native Peruvian natural fiber rich in cellulose. The films were produced through the tape casting technique. The barrier properties presented swelling and solubility values of 1.478 and 0.439 g/g, respectively, at an optimal ratio of 7 % starch on a dry basis. An improvement in the modulus of elasticity of the films obtained was observed by incorporating concentrations of MFSO, starting at 0.55 %, in the polymeric matrix during the synthesis process. The FTIR spectra of the control film and the films reinforced with MFSO exhibited the same bands, due to the chemical similarities between starch and cellulose; micrographs of the reinforced film...

The influence of temperature, extraction time and solvent ratio on the anthocyanin content extracted from Peruvian purple potatoes INIA 328 – KULLI were investigated using conventional extraction with acidified ethanolic aqueous solvent. The preservation rate (R), thermal degradation rate (k) and the half-life (t1/2) of purple potatoes anthocyanin extract at different temperatures were determined. In addition, the color change of the anthocyanin extract was examined against different pH using UV–Visible spectroscopy. The results showed an anthocyanin content of 75.71 mg/100g of fresh weight (FW) obtained by an extraction temperature of 40 °C, for 4 h and using a solvent ratio of 5 mL/g. On the other hand, thermal kinetic degradation indicates that 98 % of the anthocyanin content can be preserved for up to 6 h at 40 °C. Better results were observed by keeping anthocyanin ...

This research aimed to establish a methodology for isolating and characterizing nanofibrillated cellulose (CNF) from Stipa obtusa, using low concentrations of reagents and their characterization. The fibers were collected in high Andean areas of Cusco in Peru, treated with the alkaline-assisted steam explosion, followed by bleaching and acid fibrillation procedures, and with steam explosion, using solutions with varying concentrations of oxalic acid. The CNF was characterized by analytical methods according to TAPPI standards and using XRD, FTIR, SEM, TEM, and TGA techniques. The optimum values for obtaining the CNFs were: alkaline treatment with NaOH 0.5 M and acid treatment with 8% (m/m) of oxalic acid. These parameters were used to obtain a CNF network with a non-uniform surface and diameters between 19 and 27 nm, 82.97% (m/m) of cellulose, and a crystallinity index of 52.92%. Further...

Steam explosion as a pre-treatment for lignocellulosic fibers is an eco-friendly technology for obtaining cellulose microfibres. This study used a sustainable process design to produce Stipa Ichu (endemic fiber) cellulose microfibres on a pilot scale. Pseudolignin models and experimental data from recent studies were used to validate and simulate the steam explosion in a range of 150 to 220°C using acetic acid concentrations of 0.1 to 0.3 g/g of fiber. A peak yield of 92% was obtained for lignin recovery. The proposed process, which would produce 5 tons of dried cellulose microfibres per year, is economically feasible with an ROI of 48% and a PBP of 2.45 years. Additionally, the process is environmentally viable, with an E-factor of 9.42.

Environmental contamination by heavy metals, such as lead (Pb2+), presents significant risks to ecosystems and public health, necessitating the development of innovative and sustainable remediation methods. This study introduces a novel adsorbent derived from microcellulose (MC) extracted from Stipa obtusa, a grass species native to the Andean regions of Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia, for the removal of lead ions from aqueous solutions. MC fibers were isolated through thermochemical processing, followed by chemical functionalization with sodium chlorite (NaClO2). The resulting functionalized microfibers (FMC) were characterized using elemental analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area analysis (BET), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Batch adsorption experiments identified optimal conditions: an ...

Reducing the demand for fossil fuels and the derived products can be achieved through the development of alternative energy sources. This work presents a countrywide study of the energy potential of lignocellulosic biomass sourced from agro-industrial by-products in the country of Peru. Ranking of the crops that produce the most waste was followed by an energy potential evaluation of carbohydrate conversion and thermochemical conversion. The crops with high calorific values were sugar cane bagasse, wood waste, and coffee husk. The energy potential of the principal lignocellulosic by-products, in terms of tons of oil equivalents per year, resulted from rice straw at 1.45 M, followed by corn residue at 1.13 M and sugar cane residue at 1.10 M. The northern region of Peru generated the highest quantities of rice (straw and husk), banana (husk and rachis), and sugar cane (bagasse and straw) b...

This research work focuses on the performance of mortars containing ichu ash as a potential environmentally-sound alternative to traditional pozzolans (at 6% and 10% replacement levels) under CO2 and chloride ion rich environments, in order to evaluate the capacity of this material to produce more sustainable and durable blended cements. The results indicate that ichu ash increases the susceptibility to carbonation, although mortars with 6% ichu ash content behave similarly to OPC ones. However, both density and mechanical strength improve after 250 days of carbonation for both ichu-blended mortars. In terms of resistance to chloride penetration, the addition of ichu ash contributes to retaining the ions in the superficial layers of the mortars, inhibiting their advance. It was found that formulations with both 6% and 10% ichu ash content produced a reduction in the chloride d...