On cellulose dissolution and aggregation in aqueous tetrabutylammonium hydroxide

Biomacromolecules. 2016 Sep 12;17(9):2873-81. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.6b00696. Epub 2016 Aug 12.

Abstract

Aqueous tetrabutylammonium hydroxide, TBAH(aq), has been found to dissolve cellulose and to be a potential solvent for chemical processing or fiber spinning. In this paper, we have investigated the dissolution state of cellulose in 40 wt % TBAH(aq) solvent, and present an extensive study of rheology, combined with static light and small-angle X-ray scattering, to correlate cellulose aggregation with changes in the rheological parameters. Two cellulose molecular weights are compared. Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), with a degree of polymerization of ca. 260, and a dissolving pulp with an approximately ten times higher molecular weight. Scattering data demonstrate that cellulose is molecularly dissolved at lower cellulose concentrations, while aggregates are present when the concentration exceeds a certain value. The onset of the aggregate formation is marked by a pronounced increase in the scattering intensity at low q, shear thinning behavior and violation of the empirical Cox-Merz rule. Additionally, the SAXS data suggest the presence of a solvation shell enriched in TBA(+) ions, compared to the bulk solvent. The results are consistent with the recent suggestion that while native cellulose I may still dissolve, solutions are, above a particular concentration, becoming supersaturated with respect to the more stable crystal form cellulose II.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cellulose / chemistry*
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / chemistry*
  • Scattering, Small Angle
  • Solubility
  • Temperature
  • Viscosity
  • Water / chemistry*
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds
  • Water
  • Cellulose
  • tetrabutylammonium