X-ray powder diffraction and other analyses of cellulose nanocrystals obtained from corn straw by chemical treatments

C C Hernandez; F F Ferreira; D S Rosa

doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2018.03.085

X-ray powder diffraction and other analyses of cellulose nanocrystals obtained from corn straw by chemical treatments

Carbohydr Polym. 2018 Aug 1:193:39-44. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2018.03.085. Epub 2018 Mar 27.

Authors

C C Hernandez¹, F F Ferreira², D S Rosa³

Affiliations

¹ Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC), Centro de Engenharia, Modelagem e Ciências Sociais Aplicadas, Brazil.
² Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC), Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Avenida dos Estados, 5001, Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil.
³ Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC), Centro de Engenharia, Modelagem e Ciências Sociais Aplicadas, Brazil. Electronic address: derval.rosa@ufabc.edu.br.

PMID: 29773395
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2018.03.085

Abstract

The extraction of nanocellulose from agro-industrial wastes is feasible due to a significant amount of cellulose contained in these natural fibers. The analysis of chemical treatments effects on the fibers to obtain the nanocellulose must be taken into consideration for the definition of an adequate and efficient methodology. In this study, two alkaline treatments were used (cleaning and bleaching), as well as an acid treatment for the extraction of nanocellulose from corn straw residues. The samples were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to verify the action and modifications caused in their chemical and physical structures. It was possible to verify the extraction of hemicellulose and lignin, the reduction of fiber sizes to the nanoscale, and the final sample presenting superior crystallinity for the bleached fiber.

Keywords: Chemical treatments; Maize straw; Nanocellulose; Natural fiber; Rietveld method.