This study investigated the nitration of nanostructured bacterial cellulose (NBC). The NBC, obtained using symbiotic Medusomyces gisevii Sa-12 as the microbial producer and then freeze-dried, was nitrated herein by two methods, the first using mixed sulphuric-nitric acids (MA) and the second using concentrated nitric acid in the presence of methylene chloride (NA+MC). The synthesized samples of NBC nitrates (NBCNs) exhibited 11.77-12.27% nitrogen content, a viscosity of 1086 mPa·s or higher, 0.7-14.5% solubility in an alcohol-ester mixture, and 0.002% ash. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the nitration compacted the NBC structure, with the original reticulate pattern of the structure being preserved in full. Infrared spectroscopy for the presence of functional nitro groups at 1658-1659, 1280, 838-840, 749-751 and 693-694 cm-1 confirmed the synthesis of cellulose nitrates in particular. Thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses showed the resultant NBCNs to have a high purity and high specific heats of decomposition of 6.94-7.08 kJ/g. The NBCN samples differ conceptually from plant-based cellulose nitrates by having a viscosity above 1086 mPa·s and a unique 3D reticulate structure that is retained during the nitration. The findings suggest that the NBCNs can be considered for use in novel high-tech materials and science-driven fields distinct from the application fields of plant-based cellulose nitrates. The NBCN sample obtained with NA+MC has the ability to generate an organogel when it is dissolved in acetone. Because of the said property, this NBCN sample can find use as a classical adhesive scaffold and an energetic gel matrix for creating promising energetic polymers.
Keywords: energetic polymers; nanostructured bacterial cellulose; nanostructured bacterial cellulose nitrates; nitration; nitrogen content; stabilization.