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Comparing microcrystalline with spherical nanocrystalline cellulose from waste cotton fabrics

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Abstract

Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and spherical nanocrystalline cellulose (SNCC) were successfully prepared from waste cotton fabrics through acid hydrolysis. The comparative analysis of the morphology and structure between the obtained MCC and SNCC was carried out. The SNCC suspension exhibited higher stability than the MCC suspension. Transmission electron microscopy in combination with atomic force microscopy showed that the cellulose nanospheres with average size of 35 nm were achieved, while the average particle size of MCC was 49 μm. The MCC and SNCC had similar functional groups and crystalline structure as confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis, respectively. Viscometric average molecular weight measurement and thermo gravimetric analysis indicated that the degree of polymerization and thermal stability of SNCC was lower than that of MCC. These results should improve understanding of the characteristics of MCC and SNCC derived from waste cotton fabrics and lead to many new applications.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the National Science Foundation of China (51073108 and 50903053) and National High Technology Research and Development Program (863 Program, SS2012AA062613) for financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Polymer Research Institute of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China

    Rui Xiong, Xinxing Zhang, Dong Tian, Zehang Zhou & Canhui Lu

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  1. Rui Xiong
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  2. Xinxing Zhang
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  3. Dong Tian
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  4. Zehang Zhou
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  5. Canhui Lu
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Correspondence to Xinxing Zhang or Canhui Lu.

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Xiong, R., Zhang, X., Tian, D. et al. Comparing microcrystalline with spherical nanocrystalline cellulose from waste cotton fabrics. Cellulose 19, 1189–1198 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-012-9730-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-012-9730-4

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