PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS IN REGENERATED MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE FOLLOWING DISSOLUTION BY AN IONIC LIQUID

• Main Authors: Alireza Shakeri, Mark Staiger
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: North Carolina State University 2010-04-01
• Series: BioResources
• Subjects: http://ojs.cnr.ncsu.edu/index.php/BioRes/article/viewFile/BioRes_05_2_0979_Shakeri_Staiger_Phase_Trans_MCC_Ionic_Liq/591
• Online Access: http://Microcrystalline cellulose; Dissolution; Regenerated cellulose; Ionic liquid

Phase transformations in microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) were studied following dissolution of 5, 10, and 20 wt. % MCC in the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium formate (BMIMFmO) and regeneration via water. BMIMFmO was found to be useful as a non-derivatizing solvent for cellulose without the need for any pre-treatment. Wide angle X-ray scattering indicated that a phase transformation from cellulose I to either a poorly crystalline form of cellulose I and/or cellulose II occurs during regeneration after dissolution in BMIMFmO. The dissolution time affected the resulting microstructure of the regenerated cellulose. Thermogravi-metric analysis showed that regeneration from the ionic liquid lowers the decomposition onset temperature and increases the char yield when compared with the as-received MCC.