Cellulose nanowhiskers from coconut husk fibers: Effect of preparation conditions on their thermal and morphological behavior

Published Date
23 May 2010, Vol.81(1):83–92, doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2010.01.059

Author

M.F. Rosa ^a,b

E.S. Medeiros ^b,c

J.A. Malmonge ^d

K.S. Gregorski ^b

D.F. Wood ^b

L.H.C. Mattoso ^c

G. Glenn ^b

W.J. Orts ^b

S.H. Imam ^b,,,

• aEmbrapa Agroindústria Tropical, Rua Dra Sara Mesquita, 2270, 60511-110 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
• bBioproduct Chemistry & Engineering Research Unit, WRRC, ARS-USDA, Albany, CA 94710, USA
• cEmbrapa Instrumentação Agropecuária, Laboratório Nacional de Nanotecnologia para o Agronegócio, CP 741, 13560-970 São Carlos, SP, Brazil
• dUNESP – São Paulo State University, Campus de Ilha Solteira, 15385-000 Ilha Solteira, SP, Brazil

Received 23 November 2009. Revised 27 January 2010. Accepted 28 January 2010. Available online 10 February 2010.

Abstract

Cellulose nanowhiskers were prepared by sulfuric acid hydrolysis from coconut husk fibers which had previously been submitted to a delignification process. The effects of preparation conditions on the thermal and morphological behavior of the nanocrystals were investigated. Cellulose nanowhisker suspensions were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray diffraction. Results showed that it was possible to obtain ultrathin cellulose nanowhiskers with diameters as low as 5 nm and aspect ratio of up to 60. A possible correlation between preparation conditions and particle size was not observed. Higher residual lignin content was found to increase thermal stability indicating that by controlling reaction conditions one can tailor the thermal properties of the nanowhiskers.

Keywords

Nanowhiskers

Cellulose nanocrystals

Coconut husk fiber

Nanofiber

Thermal behavior

Morphology

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