Comparison of Water Adsorption Properties of Cellulose and Cellulose Nanocrystals Studied by Near-Infrared Spectroscopy and Gravimetry

Abstract

The adsorption properties of water molecules on cellulose and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), isolated from defatted rice bran (DRB) by 55% sulfuric acid hydrolysis under sonication were investigated. The powdered samples of cellulose and CNCs were analysed by using near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) and gravimetry at 38% and 55% humidities. Small amounts of samples were dried under vacuum at 120°C and the NIR spectra of the dry samples and their spectra during the adsorption water molecules were measured by using an NIR spectrometer equipped with a transflectance accessory and a DTGS detector. The quantitative adsorption of water molecules by the samples was determined by gravimetry. Second and fourth derivative profiles of the NIR spectra were used in understanding the chemistry of adsorption of water molecules and the adsorption processes by the samples. The results show that the adsorption of water molecules by the cellulose samples gives rise to three prominent peaks that can be related to the water molecules engaged in hydrogen bonding with C2, C3 and C6-OH groups on the glucose units of the cellulose polymers. Furthermore, the cellulose nanocrystals adsorb twice as much of water as the cellulose polymer. It is also clear from the results that C2 and C3-OH groups in the glucose units adsorb water molecules at a faster rate than the C6-OH group and responsible for nearly 50% of the water adsorption.