Isolation of Nanocellulose from Broomcorn Stalks and Its Application for Nanocellulose/Xanthan Film Preparation

Abstract

AbstractNanocellulose extraction from broomcorn stalk was conducted using acid hydrolysis followed by sonication. The influence of acid concentration, hydrolysis time and temperature on nanocellulose isolation was studied. The minimum size and maximum yield of isolated nanocellulose were 40 nm and 71%, respectively obtained at acid concentration of 45 wt%, temperature of 45 °C and time of 75 min. The isolated nanocellulose was characterized through dynamic light scattering, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis. The results demonstrated the extraction of highly charged nanocellulose (–42.4 mV) with entangled network, high crystallinity (53%) and thermal stability (initial degradation at 268 °C). Xanthan gum films with different contents of isolated nanocellulose were prepared by solution casting method. The mechanical behavior of developed films was analyzed through tensile test. From the results, the sample with the loading of 60 wt% of nanocellulose displayed best properties with the tensile strength of 6.0125 MPa and Young's modulus of 14.64 MPa.