Selective hydrolysis of cellulose for the preparation of microcrystalline cellulose by phosphotungstic acid

Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), prepared from natural cellulose through acid hydrolysis, has been widely used in the food, chemical and pharmaceutical industries because of its high degree of crystallinity, small particle size and other characteristics. Being different from conventional mineral acids, phosphotungstic acid (H₃PW₁₂O₄₀, HPW) was explored for hydrolyzing cellulose selectively for the preparation of MCC in this study. Various reaction parameters, such as the acid concentration, reaction time, temperature and solid-liquid ratio, were optimized. Rod-like MCC was obtained with a high yield of 93.62 % and also exhibited higher crystallinity and narrower particle diameter distribution (76.37 %, 13.77–26.17 μm) compared with the raw material (56.47 %, 32.41–49.74 μm) at 90 °C for 2 h with 58 % (w/w) HPW catalyst and a solid-liquid radio of 1:40. Furthermore, HPW can easily be extracted and recycled with diethyl ether for four runs without affecting the quality of the MCC products. The technology of protecting the crystalline region while selectively hydrolyzing the amorphous region of cellulose as much as possible by using HPW is of great significance. Due to the strong Brønsted acid sites and highest activity in solid heteropoly acid, the use of effective homogeneous HPW may offer an eco-friendly and sustainable way to selectively convert fiber resources into chemicals in the future.     

Equilibrium constants of cellulose nitration by nitric acid under quasi-homogeneous conditions

The equilibrium of nitration of cellulose was studied at 13.1 and 20 °C in aqueous solutions of HNO₃ (77.3–80.5 wt.%) forming quasi-homogeneous solutions with cellulose. At 20 °C under quasi-homogeneous conditions, the rates of cellulose nitration are comparable to those of homogeneous nitration of alcohols. The effective nitration constants differ substantially for heterogeneous and homogeneous reactions. Using IR spectra, the partial conversions in the nitration to the 2, 3 and 6 positions of the glucopyranose cycle and the effective equilibrium constants of formation of different isomeric nitrates were estimated. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 66–70, January, 1999.     

An expeditious synthesis of quinoxalines by using biodegradable cellulose sulfuric acid as a solid acid catalyst

A simple, efficient and environmentally friendly process for the solid state synthesis of quinoxaline derivatives by the condensation reaction of the benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole-4,5-diamine and 3-(ω-bromoacetyl)-coumarins in the presence of cellulose sulfuric acid by simple physical grinding of reactants using a mortar and pestle at room temperature in good to excellent yields with high purity. The catalyst is recyclable and reusable.     

Optimization of the isolation of nanocrystals from microcrystalline cellulose by acid hydrolysis

The objective of this work was to find a rapid, high-yield process to obtain an aqueous stable colloid suspension of cellulose nanocrystals/whiskers. Large quantities are required since these whiskers are designed to be extruded into polymers in the production of nano-biocomposites. Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), derived from Norway spruce (Picea abies), was used as the starting material. The processing parameters have been optimized by using response surface methodology. The factors that varied during the process were the concentration of MCC and sulfuric acid, the hydrolysis time and temperature, and the ultrasonic treatment time. Responses measured were the median size of the cellulose particles/whiskers and yield. The surface charge as calculated from conductometric titration, microscopic examinations (optical and transmission electron microscopy), and observation of birefringence were also investigated in order to determine the outcome (efficiency) of the process. With a sulfuric acid concentration of 63.5% (w/w), it was possible to obtain cellulose nanocrystals/whiskers with a length between 200 and 400 nm and a width less than 10 nm in approximately 2 h with a yield of 30% (of initial weight).     

SEC-MALS analysis of cellouronic acid prepared from regenerated cellulose by TEMPO-mediated oxidation

The 4-amino-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxy radical (4-amino-TEMPO)-mediated oxidation was applied to regenerated cellulose, and the obtained cellouronic acid was analyzed by size-exclusion chromatography attached with a multi-angle laser light scattering detector (SEC-MALS). Although the cellouronic acid filtered with the usual 0.1 μm membrane gave a bimodal SEC-elution pattern, the high-molecular-mass fraction was removed by micro filtration of the cellouronic acid solution with a 0.02 μm membrane. It is likely, therefore, that some colloidal particles formed from regenerated cellulose by the TEMPO-mediated oxidation are present as incompletely oxidized residues in the cellouronic acid sample and behave as the high-molecular-mass fraction in the SEC elution pattern. Then, the SEC-MALS analysis was applied to the 0.02 μm membrane-filtered cellouronic acid, and the accurate DPw value of 36 was obtained for cellouronic acid. This DPw value was far lower than that of carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose or alginic acid, resulting from significant depolymerization of cellulose chains during the TEMPO-mediated oxidation. Because the value of DPw 36 for cellouronic acid is close to the leveling-off DP (about 40) of regenerated celluloses obtained by the dilute and heterogeneous acid hydrolysis, the DPw value of cellouronic acid must reflect the solid-state structure of the original regenerated cellulose used in the TEMPO-mediated oxidation.     

Mercerization and acid hydrolysis of bacterial cellulose

Structural changes in never- dried, disintegrated bacteria l cellulose by treatment with aqueous NaOH were examined by electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry and acid hydrolysis behaviour and compared with those of cotton cellulose. The microfibril kept its fibrillar morphology after treatment with NaOH solutions of less than 9% (w/w), but changed into irregular aggregates when treated with NaOH above 12% (w/w), corresponding to the crystal conversion to cellulose II. The crystallinity of the resulting cellulose II was very low after a brief alkali treatment, but was increased significantly by elongated treatment (up to 10 days). In contrast, cotton cellulose was converted to cellulose II of fairly high crystallinity by alkali treatment of as little as 3 min duration, and the crystallinity did not change with longer treatments. The leveling-off degree of polymerization (LODP) of bacterial cellulose was decreased from 150 to 50 by 18% (w/w) NaOH treatment, while that of cotton linter decreased from 260 to 70. These characteristic differences between cotton linter cellulose and bacterial cellulose can be ascribed to a basic difference in microfibrillar organization in these materials: the microfibrils in cotton cellulose are in close contact with neighbouring microfibrils having opposite polarity, and in bacterial cellulose are isolated from each other and require chain folding to form the antiparallel cellulose II crystal     

Interfacial properties of cellulose nanoparticles obtained from acid and enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose

Rod-shaped cellulose nanocrystals obtained by acid hydrolysis of eucalyptus fibers (CNCa) presented high aspect ratio (estimated length and width of 180 and 5 nm, respectively) and zeta potential of ?(17 ± 1) mV at pH 6. This typical morphology of cellulose nanocrystals was in contrast to nanoparticles obtained upon enzymatic hydrolysis of bacterial cellulose (CNCe), which were asymmetric and irregular due to surface-bound cellulases and presented a distinctive surface roughness. Interestingly, CNCe also displayed axial grooves, to yield a C-shape cross section that has not been reported before. The effect of the characteristic shape and surface chemistry of CNCa and of grooved CNCe was studied at oil/water interfaces and solid surfaces. Emulsions (20 % v/v oil) prepared with the CNCa were more stable than those prepared with CNCe, owing to their characteristic shape and surface chemistry. Hydrophilic (silica surfaces cationized by pre-adsorbed polycation) and hydrophobic (polystyrene films) solid surfaces were used as substrates for the adsorption of CNCe and CNCa for each type of surface. The ellipsometric data and AFM images indicated larger affinity of CNCe than CNCa for the hydrophobic surface. On the other hand, CNCa formed homogeneous monolayer on hydrophilic surfaces, whereas CNCe formed discontinuous films. Sequential adsorption behavior of CNCa on CNCe layers (or vice versa) suggested that the interaction between them is controlled by the orientation of enzymes bound to CNCe.     

Unconventional cellulose products by fluorination of tosyl cellulose

The synthesis of novel deoxy-fluoro cellulose derivatives obtained by nucleophilic displacement reactions (SN) of p-toluenesulfonyl (tosyl) cellulose with tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF) is described. Detailed studies concerning the influence of the reaction time and temperature as well as the water content of the TBAF on the composition of the products were carried out. The SN reaction occurs even at room temperature. The degree of substitution of deoxy-fluoro moieties (DSF) is in the range from 0.22 to 0.47. The polymers contain remaining tosyl groups. Preliminary 19F NMR measurements reveal the presence of the CH2F group. The degradation temperature of the deoxy-fluoro cellulose derivatives is increased compared to the starting tosyl cellulose, however, a distinct influence of the remaining tosyl groups appears.     

Separation of rhenium by thin-layer chromatography with polyethyleneimine cellulose in hydrochloric acid media

Summary The thin-layer chromatographic behavior of 49 inorganic ions on polyethyleneimine (PEI) cellulose has been investigated in hydrochloric acid media (0.01–1.0 mol dm⁻³). The sorption on the cellulose decreases with increasing acid concentration for most of the ions, but As(III), Ti(IV) and Te(VI) do not exhibit any R_f variation with the acid concentration. The R_f spectra of TI(I), Cd(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) have a maximum. Ag(I), Bi(III), Nb(V), Ta(V), Mo(VI) and W(VI) are retained tightly on the layer, due to either insoluble salt formation or extensive hydrolysis. The extremely low R_f values of Hg(II), Pd(II), Au(III), Ru(III) and Pt(IV) are accounted for by stability of their chlorocomplexes. Re(VII) distributes chromatographically, having moderate R_f values between 0.3 and 0.6, so that the selective separation of Re(VII) from the other ions is feasible.     

酸性离子液体降解纤维素制备5-羟甲基糠醛的研究

以离子液体氯化1-烯丙基-3-甲基咪唑鎓([Amim]Cl)为溶剂,以咪唑类酸功能离子液体[Cnmim]HSO4(n=2,4,6,8)和Cr Cl3·6H2O为复合催化剂,在微波辅助加热条件下降解纤维素制备5-羟甲基糠醛(5-HMF),考察了催化剂加入量、反应温度、催化剂种类、反应时间、加水量等反应条件对纤维素降解反应的影响。结果表明,当[C2mim]HSO4的加入量为0.02g、微晶纤维素(MCC)和Cr Cl3·6H2O的摩尔比为10∶1、反应温度为160℃、反应时间为30min、加水量为50μL时,微晶纤维素转化率为100%,总还原糖收率为87.2%,5-HMF产率最高可达到50%。     

Thermal transformation of micro-crystalline cellulose in phosphoric acid

Use of crude oil derivatives such as diesel and gasoline is becoming unsuitable due to their detriment to environment and to the increasing worldwide energy demand which is driving crude oil reservoirs towards exhaustion. Replacement of diesel and gasoline with biofuels (i.e. biodiesel and bioethanol, respectively) is very desirable. In fact, biofuels are not only environmentally sustainable, but also potentially inexhaustible due to the large amounts of waste biomasses from which they can be retrieved. In the present study, a model compound (micro-crystalline cellulose) was dissolved in phosphoric acid and converted at 80 °C to glucose, thereby providing the possible substrate for fermentation to bioethanol. Results revealed that after 1 h heating, the reaction had the largest glucose yield as compared to similar studies done by using other acid catalysts. In addition, the temperature applied here was from 40 to 60 °C lower than those already reported in literature for acid-driven cellulose degradations. Phosphoric acid allowed both glucose and levulinic acid achievement. The latter is usually used to synthesize fuel additives, catalysts, solvents and herbicides, thereby enhancing the added value of the conversion of cellulose to glucose in phosphoric acid. Finally, ¹H T₁ NMR relaxometry showed its suitability to monitor cellulose degradation. The advantages of relaxomety are its quickness since only few minutes are needed to obtain relaxograms, and the possibility to use raw mixtures without the needing of sample preparation.     

Taste sensing with polyacrylic acid grafted cellulose membrane

There are reports of fabrication of taste sensor by adsorbing lipids into Millipore filter paper, which improved the taste sensing efficiency of membrane remarkably. We have made an attempt to prepare taste sensor material by grafting polyacrylic acid (PAA) to cellulose. The research work covers polymer membrane preparation, morphology study, and structural characterization of the membrane and study of the taste sensing characteristics of this membrane for five different taste substances. FTIR spectroscopic analysis and SEM were done to get an idea about the structure and morphology of the PAA grafted cellulose membrane. Surface charge density of the membrane was estimated. The sensor characteristics like temporal stability, response stability, response to different taste substances, and reproducibility of sensing performance were studied using PAA grafted cellulose membrane. Sensor device prepared with this membrane has shown distinct response patterns for different taste substances in terms of membrane potential. Threshold concentrations of PAA grafted cellulose membrane for HCl, NaCl, quinine-hydrochloride (Q-HCl), sucrose and monosodium glutamate are 0.001 mM, 0.01 mM, 0.08 mM, 0.08 mM and 0.01 mM, respectively. The threshold concentrations except that in Q-HCl are below human threshold concentrations. Membranes also showed characteristic response patterns for organic acids like acetic acid, citric acid, formic acid, etc., mineral acids like HCl, H₂SO₄ and HNO₃, etc., salts, bitter substances, sweet substances and umami substances. Sensor device prepared with this membrane has excellent shelf life.     

Estimation of the surface sulfur content of cellulose nanocrystals prepared by sulfuric acid hydrolysis

The conditions required for the accurate measurement of the sulfur content of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) by conductometric titration are discussed. CNCs from sulfuric acid hydrolysis are electrostatically stabilized in aqueous suspension due to the introduction of charged sulfate ester groups onto the surface of the crystallites during reaction. The sulfur content thus largely reflects the surface charge of the crystals, and is crucial to the characterization and understanding of material properties. Conductometric titration is commonly used to quantify the sulfur content of CNCs, however, the exhaustive removal of free acid by dialysis and the necessity, type, quantity and duration of ion-exchange resin treatments are not always consistent. Here we explore the standard conditions of dialysis, ion-exchange, and the reproducibility of titration results. Extensive dialysis is found to be effective in the removal of free acid, but similar results are also achieved in shorter times and with less water using membrane ultrafiltration. It is also shown that the conditions of ion-exchange most commonly employed in the literature can lead to inaccurate sulfur contents. Finally, good agreement is obtained between the sulfur contents of different CNC batches prepared using the same hydrolysis conditions, and from titration and elemental analysis when thoroughly purified, well-dispersed samples, and appropriate resin conditions are used.     

Selective production of levoglucosenone by catalytic pyrolysis of cellulose mixed with magnetic solid acid

Cellulose - In this study, magnetic solid acid Fe3O4/C–SO3H600 was synthesized and applied in catalytic fast pyrolysis of cellulose for the selective production of levoglucosenone (LGO). The...     

Preparation and characterization of cellulose nanofibers from partly mercerized cotton by mixed acid hydrolysis

Cellulose nanofibers with a diameter of 70 nm and lengths of approximately 400 nm were fabricated from partly mercerized cotton fibers by acid hydrolysis. Morphological evolution of the hydrolyzed cotton fibers was investigated by powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared analysis and field emission scanning electron microscopy. The XRD results show that the cellulose I was partially transformed into cellulose II by treatment with 15 % NaOH at 150° for 3 h. The crystallinity of this partially mercerized sample was lower than the samples that were converted completely to cellulose II by higher concentrations of NaOH. The intensities of all of the diffraction peaks were noticeably increased with increased hydrolysis time. Fourier transform infrared results revealed that the chemical composition of the remaining nanofibers of cellulose I and II had no observable change after acidic hydrolysis, and there was no difference between the hydrolysis rates for cellulose I or II. The formation of cellulose nanofibers involves three stages: net-like microfibril formation, then short microfibrils and finally nanofibers.     

Modification of microcrystalline cellulose by a binary mixture of pyromellitic dianhydride and phosphoric acid

The reactions involved in the esteriification of microcrystalline cellulose with a binary mixture of pyromellitic dianhydride and phosphoric acid have been studied. By changing the molar ratio of dianhydride to acid it is possible to regulate the course of the reaction and to obtain products with required contents of phosphoric acid and carboxy groups.Tashkent Institute of Chemical Technology, 700034, Tashkent, ul. Shevchenko, 1. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 4, pp. 583–586, July–August, 1996. Original article submitted January 22, 1996.     

Preparation and characterization of cellulose β-ketoesters prepared by homogeneous reaction with alkylketene dimers: comparison with cellulose/fatty acid esters

Cellulose was dissolved in lithium chloride/1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone (LiCl/DMI), and reacted with alkylketene dimers (AKDs) under non-aqueous and homogeneous conditions to prepare cellulose/AKD β-ketoesters with high degrees of substitution (DS). Six AKDs synthesized from octanoic, decanoic, dodecanoic, tetradecanoic, hexadecanoic and octadecanoic acids via their fatty acid chlorides were used in this study. The cellulose/AKD β-ketoesters obtained were gummy solid at room temperature, and had DS values ranging from 1.9 to 2.9. Cellulose/fatty acid esters with DS 2.5–2.9 were also prepared as references. ¹³C-NMR spectra of the cellulose/AKD β-ketoesters showed that cellulose carbons and substituent carbons close to cellulose chains were restricted in motion and behaved like solid in solutions. In contrast, the cellulose/fatty acid esters did not demonstrate such anomalous ¹³C-NMR spectra. The unique ¹³C-NMR patterns are characteristic for the cellulose/AKD β-ketoesters, which have long and branched alkyl substituents in each anhydroglucose unit. Size-exclusion chromatography furnished with multi-angle laser light scattering (SEC-MALLS) revealed, on the other hand, that all cellulose/AKD β-ketoesters and cellulose/fatty acid esters prepared had flexible or random-coil conformations in tetrahydrofuran (THF). There were no clear differences in conformation or stiffness of cellulose chains between cellulose/AKD β-ketoesters and cellulose/fatty acid esters.     

Conversion of cellulose to glucose and levulinic acid via solid-supported acid catalysis

Cellulose is hydrolyzed to glucose, which is further converted to levulinic acid in the presence of surface-supported Brønsted and Lewis acid catalysts. Nafion catalysts, in particular, have the potential to be recycled or applied to a continuous flow reactor for the synthesis of these biofuel precursors.     

Polyacrylamide adsorption by cellulose

Summary Polyacrylamide adsorption by sulphite bleached, sulphite unbleached and monocarboxyl-cellulose was investigated. The kinetics of the adsorption process was studied, the reaction order was established and the velocity constants, the velocity temperature coefficients and the activation energies were determined.Data were adduced about the physical type of PAA adsorption by the four cellulose materials. The adsorption equations were established for the temperature interval of 0 °C to 60 °C.

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Zusammenfassung In vorliegender Arbeit wurde die Adsorption von Polyacrylamid auf gebleichtem und ungebleichtem Sulfitzellstoff, ungebleichtem Sulfatzellstoff und auf Monokarboxylzellulose untersucht. Es wurden auch die Kinetik des Adsorptionsprozesses studiert, die Reaktionsordnung, die Geschwindigkeits-Konstante und die Aktivierungsenergie festgestellt.Es wurden Tatsachen herangezogen, die die Adsorption von Polyacrylamid an Zellstoffen als physikalisch beweisen. Es wurden die Gleichungen der Adsorption im Temperaturinterval von 0 °C bis 60 °C aufgestellt.

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With 8 figures and 4 tables     

Cellulosic nanocomposite membranes from hydroxypropyl cellulose reinforced by cellulose nanocrystals

Cellulosic nanocomposite membranes were prepared by incorporation of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) into a hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) matrix using a mixing/evaporation technique. CNCs were obtained from filter paper using the sulfuric acid hydrolysis method with the aid of ultrasonication. The relationship between the microstructure and mechanical properties of the CNCs/HPC nanocomposite membranes was studied. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the CNCs were well dispersed in the HPC matrix, and the fracture surface demonstrated a fibrous characteristic. With increasing CNCs content, the tensile strength and Young’s modulus of the CNCs/HPC nanocomposite membranes gradually increased. At 5 wt% content of CNCs, the strength was increased by 525 % and the Young’s modulus by 124 % compared with pure HPC membrane. Moreover, the effect of the phase change of HPC on the mechanical properties of the CNCs_5wt%/HPC nanocomposite membranes and the corresponding mechanism were also studied.