Synthesis, Characterization and Antimicrobial Properties of Cellulose from Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth pod (PMBP)

Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth pod (PMBP) popularly known as African oil bean pod is a known bio-waste carelessly littered around the eastern part of Nigeria, adding to pollution. The purpose of this research was to synthesize cellulose from Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth pod (CPMBP), characterise and assess the anti-microbial activity. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis was carried out on the synthesized cellulose at Central Laboratory, University of Nigeria Nsukka and was discovered to have a signal at 897.92 cm-1 in all spectra denoting the glycosidic linkages of the glucose ring in cellulose. The X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis was carried out on the synthesized cellulose at Nano Laboratory, University of Nigeria Nsukka and was found that pure cellulose, cellulose nanocrystals and Cellulose from Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth pod (CPMBP), had typical peaks at 2θ values of 15o and 22.6o, thereby showing that CPMBP is a form of cellulose. In the XRD diffractogram, pure cellulose had sharpest peak at around 2Î¸ï¼ 22.6o while that of CPMBP was sharpest at around 2Î¸ï¼ 22.4o. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis was performed at Central Laboratory kwara state and images of synthesized cellulose from PMBP powder at 1000x magnification was aimed at assessing the shape (morphology) and elemental composition of the synthesized cellulose of PMBP biomass. The existence of cellulose in PMBP biomass was confirmed by the overall FTIR, SEM and XRD spectrum, along with traces of lignin and hemicelluloses. The sensitivity test of the cellulose extract was carried out against 3 different test microorganisms (Salmonella typhi, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger) at the concentration of 10 mg/ml of the agent. The rest result showed that Salmonella typhi, and Candida albicans were sensitive to the agent at 10 mg/ml concentration whereas Aspergillus niger was resistant to the agent. This research has shown that two important disease-causing bacteria and fungi that affect the human population severely may be inhibited by the potential of the cellulose extract at 10 mg/ml concentrations and thus be useful in the Pharmaceutical industry.