title: Isolation and characterization of cellulose nanowhiskers from oil palm biomass microcrystalline cellulose.
abstract: The objective of this study is to compare the effect of two different isolation techniques on the physico-chemical and thermal properties of cellulose nanowhiskers (CNW) from oil palm biomass obtained microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). Fourier transform infrared analysis showed that there are no significant changes in the peak positions, suggesting that the treatments did not affect the chemical structure of the cellulose fragment. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the aggregated structure of MCC is broken down after treatment. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the produced CNW displayed a nanoscale structure. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that chemical swelling improves the crystallinity of MCC while maintaining the cellulose I structure. Acid hydrolysis however reduced the crystallinity of MCC and displayed the coexistence of cellulose I and II allomorphs. The produced CNW is shown to have a good thermal stability and hence is suitable for a range of applications such as green biodegradable nanocomposites reinforced with CNW.
authors: Department of Polymer Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM 81310, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia; School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia.
authors: M K Mohamad
authors: MK
authors: Haafiz
authors: Department of Polymer Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM 81310, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia. Electronic address: azmanh@cheme.utm.my.
authors: Azman
authors: A
authors: Hassan
authors: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM 81310, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia.
authors: Zainoha
authors: Z
authors: Zakaria
authors: Department of Polymer Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM 81310, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia.
authors: I M
authors: IM
authors: Inuwa
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003460:Crystallization; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D000073878:Palm Oil; D010316:Particle Size; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D010938:Plant Oils; D000073878:Palm Oil; D002482:Cellulose
keywords: Cellulose nanowhiskers; Microcrystalline cellulose; Oil palm biomass; Transmission electron microscopy