Production of cellulose II from native cellulose by near- and supercritical water solubilization.
We explored conditions for dissolving microcrystalline cellulose in high-temperature and high-pressure water without catalyst and in order to produce cellulose II in a rapid and selective manner. For understanding reactions of microcrystalline cellulose in subcritical and supercritical water, its solubilization treatment was conducted using a continuous-flow-type microreactor. It was found that cellulose could dissolve in near- and supercritical water at short treatment times of 0.02-0.4 s, resulting in the formation of cellulose II in relatively high yield after the treatment. Next, characteristics of the cellulose II obtained were investigated. As a result, it was confirmed that the relative crystallinity index and the degree of polymerization of the cellulose II were high values ranging from 80 to 60% and from 50 to 30%, respectively. From these findings, it was suggested that this method had high potential as an alternative technique for the conventional cellulose II production method.
Sasaki
Mitsuru
M
Genesis Research Institute, Inc., 4-1-35 Noritake-shinmachi, Nishi-ku, Nagoya 451-0051, Japan. msasaki@kumamoto-u.ac.jp
Adschiri
Tadafumi
T
Arai
Kunio
K
D002236:Carbohydrate Conformation; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003460:Crystallization; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D012995:Solubility; D014867:Water
D011108:Polymers; D014867:Water; D002482:Cellulose