Extraction and characterization of microcrystalline cellulose from waste cotton fabrics via hydrothermal method

Abstract

A large amount of accumulated waste cotton fabrics (WCFs) have caused environmental problem and depletion of resources. The extraction of microcrystalline cellulose as value-added products is one of the effective ways to the recycling of WCFs. This study aimed to extract microcrystalline cellulose from WCFs by the hydrothermal method and compare the extracted microcrystalline cellulose (EMC) with Avicel PH101 microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). The EMC was extracted under hydrothermal conditions (solid–liquid ratio 1:30, HCl concentration 0.6 mol/L, 150 °C, 100 min), with a yield and the degree of polymerization of 85.54% and 228, respectively. The samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, thermogravimetric analysis and contact angle testing. The detailed analyses showed that the properties of EMC prepared from WCFs are similar to those of commercial MCC. The results indicated that WCFs is a critical and potential low-cost raw material to prepare MCC.