Abstract
The preparation of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) from cellulose extracted from cotton gin motes (CGM) using an ionic liquid (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, [BMIm]Cl) under dilute conditions is reported. The concurrent process involves minimal swelling of cellulose with an ionic liquid and hydrolysis of the cellulose initiated by the addition of either phosphoric (H3PO4), hydrochloric (HCl), or sulfuric (H2SO4) acid. The obtained nanocrystals had similar physical properties (e.g. crystallinity) to the counterparts prepared under conventional conditions and exhibited superior thermal properties for sulfate CNCs. Additionally, the obtained CNCs had low surface functionalization, yet were colloidally stable for >90 days, which is a desirable trait for post-functionalization of CNCs. This process represents a general strategy utilizing dilute ionic liquids in the preparation of nanocellulose under mildly acidic conditions.
Highlights
Ionic liquids (ILs) are regarded as a “green solvent” and possess favourable properties; they have a low melting point (
cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs); they compared the case of the neat protic ionic liquid (PIL) obtained from BMIm and hydrogen sulfate ([BMIm]HSO4) and dilute IL premixed with H2O (1 : 14.3, mol molÀ1).[14]
The results of cellulose hydrolysis indicate that roughly onethird of the cellulose was hydrolysed into its constituent sugars during the IL-dilute acid treatment
Summary
Ionic liquids (ILs) are regarded as a “green solvent” and possess favourable properties; they have a low melting point (
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