Ultrasonication-assisted manufacture of cellulose nanocrystals esterified with acetic acid

Bioresour Technol. 2013 Jan:127:100-5. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.09.133. Epub 2012 Oct 8.

Abstract

Esterified cellulose nanocrystals (E-CNCs) are cellulose derivatives that could be applied in biomedical and chemical industries. E-CNCs were prepared with cellulose pulp using a mixture of 17.5M acetic and 18.4M sulfuric acid with the aid of ultrasonication. The effects of esterification time (3-7h), ultrasonication time (with a frequency of 40 kHz, 0 to 6h) and temperature (68-75 °C) on the yield and degree of substitution (DS) of E-CNCs were evaluated. The sample obtained without ultrasonication had the lowest yield and DS value of 48.16% and 0.22, respectively, whereas ultrasonication for 5h at 70 °C resulted in a yield of 85.38% and a DS value of 0.46. Characterization indicated the successful esterification of hydroxyl groups of cellulose, and the width of rod-shaped E-CNCs was from 10 to 100 nm. The study provides a simple and convenient method to manufacture E-CNCs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetic Acid / chemistry*
  • Carbon Isotopes / analysis
  • Cellulose / chemistry*
  • Esterification
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Nanotechnology / methods*
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
  • Ultrasonics / methods*
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Carbon Isotopes
  • Cellulose
  • Acetic Acid