This research evaluated the potential of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) derived from sugarcane bagasse as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional surfactants in detergent formulations. Sugarcane bagasse was selected for its abundance as agricultural waste in northeastern Thailand and its potential for value-added utilization. The chemical structure and morphology of the CNCs were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). CNCs were incorporated into laundry and dishwashing detergents by partially replacing 50% of conventional surfactants. Cleaning performance was evaluated using cotton fabrics and dishware stained with chili oil, tomato ketchup, soy sauce, and lipstick. Fabric color changes were analyzed using CIELAB (Lab*) measurements from a colorimeter to determine stain removal efficiency. Results showed that CNC-based detergents effectively removed stains, particularly polar food stains, with higher ΔE values for tomato ketchup (21.97) and soy sauce (18.73) than detergents without CNC. In contrast, for chili oil, ΔE decreased from 35.90 to 31.84 (11.3% reduction), indicating lower efficiency for oil-based stains. Similar trends were observed for lipstick (8.29% reduction). For dishwashing, the CNC-containing detergent removed over 99% of oil on all surfaces, with highest efficiency on glass (99.38%). Environmental safety was evaluated using pumpkin seedlings, where CNC-based detergents showed no negative effects. The cleaning mechanism is attributed to amphiphilic behavior, where hydrophobic interactions remove oily stains and hydrophilic interactions improve rinsing. Overall, these findings highlight CNCs as a sustainable, eco-friendly detergent ingredient. Further studies could optimize formulations, improve hydrophobic stain removal, and assess long-term environmental impacts.

Keywords

Amphiphilic behavior, Cellulose Nanocrystals, Detergent, Sugarcane bagasse, Surfactant replacement