Rocío Hernández Leal

Prof. Dr. Rocío Hernández Leal

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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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13 June 2025 in Polymers
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
RLRocío Hernández Leal
Rocío Hernández Leal
AAAngeles Iveth Licona Aguilar
Angeles Iveth Licona Aguilar
MCMIGUEL A DOMINGUEZ C
MIGUEL A DOMINGUEZ C
RERamírez-Meneses Esther
Ramírez-Meneses Esther
ARA.E. Rodríguez-Salazar
A.E. Rodríguez-Salazar
ATAidé Torres
Aidé Torres
This work explores the synthesis of biomass-waste-derived cellulose nanocrystal hydrogel from aloe vera bagasse (AVB) and banana pseudostem (BPS). A wide variety of synthesis parameters such as acid concentration (45 wt.% and 55 wt.%), temperatures in the process of 25, 40, 45 and 50 °C, and reaction times of 30 and 60 min were analyzed during the acid hydrolysis to evaluate changes in the morphology, crystallinity, swelling, degradation temperature, and mechanical properties. The parameters that most influenced the crystallinity were the temperature and reaction time, showing good characteristics such as percentage crystallinity (89.66% for nanocellulose from C45t30T50 up to 97.58% for CNC-BPS C55t30T50), and crystal size (from 23.40 to 68.31 nm), which was worth considering for hydrogel synthesis. Cellulose nanocrystalline hydrogels from both biomass wastes can modify the crystallinity for tailored high-end engineering and biomedical applications, although using BPS obtained the best overall performance; also, properties such as swelling capability at pH = 4 of 225.39% for hydrogel C55t30T25 (H7), porosity (60.77 ± 2.60%) for C45t60T40 (H6), and gel % (86.60 ± 2.62%) for C55t60T50 (H8) were found. The mechanical test revealed a tensile strength at maximum load of 707.67 kPa (hydrogel H6) and 644.17 kPa (hydrogel H8), which are properties conferred by the CNC from BPS. Overall, CNC from BPS is recommended as a reinforcement for hydrogel synthesis due to its good mechanical properties and functionals, making it a promising material for biomedical applications.