Aggregation Stability of Aqueous Dispersions of Microcrystalline Cellulose: pH Dependence

The aggregation stability of aqueous dispersions of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was studied by the flow ultramicroscopy in a wide range of pH (1–11). The calculations of the molecular and ion-electrostatic components of the interparticle interaction energy, which were performed according to the DLVO theory with and without allowance for the particle conductivity, demonstrated that, in most cases, the loss of the aggregation stability can not be explained without taking into account the concept of additional attraction forces between the MCC particles. It was assumed that such forces could be attributed to the dipole–dipole interactions or hydrogen bonding between hydrated particles.