Title
Fabrication of luminescent cellulose-based particles from sugarcane bagasse for Fe³⁺ detection
Authors
BERLIAN SITORUS, MAHADI, RISYA SASRI, DIONISIUS RIO, INTAN SYAHBANU and SENO D. PANJAITAN

Received July 10, 2025
Published Volume 59 Issue 9-10 October-December
Keywords Fe³⁺ detection, luminescent nanoparticles, nanocellulose, sugarcane bagasse

Abstract
This study reports on the synthesis of luminescent nanoparticles (LNPs) derived from sugarcane bagasse, offering a sustainable approach for detecting Fe³⁺ ions in aqueous systems. The process began with the isolation of cellulose through alkali and bleaching treatments, followed by acid hydrolysis to produce nanocellulose. Subsequent hydrothermal carbonization at 200 °C for 12 h yielded a reddish-brown colloidal suspension. Characterization by UV-Vis spectroscopy revealed a prominent absorption band at 284 nm, while particle size analysis indicated an average diameter of 192.7 nm. FT-IR spectra confirmed chemical modifications consistent with carbonization. Photoluminescence measurements showed a strong blue emission at ∼445 nm, which decreased steadily with rising Fe³⁺ concentrations from 0.1 to 100 μM, consistent with a dynamic quenching mechanism. These findings demonstrate that the synthesized LNPs retain nanoscale features and exhibit optical sensitivity toward Fe³⁺ ions, suggesting their potential use as simple, eco-friendly fluorescence-based sensors for heavy metal detection. It was concluded that luminescent nanoparticles can be applied as a detector of heavy metals (Fe3+).