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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Western Regional Research Center » Bioproducts Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #256506
Title: Cellulose nanowhiskers from coconut husk fibers: effect of preparation conditions on their thermal and morphological behavior

Author
item ROSA, M - Embrapa
item MEDEIROS, ELITON - Embrapa
item MALMONGE, J - Embrapa
item Gregorski, Kay
item Wood, Delilah - De
item MATTOSO, LUIS - Embrapa
item Glenn, Gregory - Greg
item Orts, William
item Imam, Syed

Submitted to: Carbohydrate Polymers
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/14/2010
Publication Date: 6/16/2010
Citation: Rosa, M.F., Medeiros, E.S., Malmonge, J.A., Gregorski, K.S., Wood, D.F., Mattoso, L.H., Glenn, G.M., Orts, W.J., Imam, S.H. 2010. Cellulose nanowhiskers from coconut husk fibers: effect of preparation conditions on their thermal and morphological behavior. Carbohydrate Polymers. 81:83-92.

Interpretive Summary: A large amount of cellulosic waste is generated yearly by the coconut industry. There is a great need to find end uses for this vast waste product. Cellulose nanowhiskers have been reported to improve the mechanical properties of composit materials. This study reports the isolation of cellulose nanowhiskers from coconut waste. Cellulose nanowhiskers from coconut waste could provide a new use for this abundant material.

Technical 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.