Microscopic structure features changes of rice straw treated by boiled acid solution

Abstract

This study focuses on the determination of structure change of surface area, morphology, crystallinity and pyrolysis characteristics of cellulosic feedstock treated by hot acid solution. The microscopic structure change of acid-treated samples was examined by using BET, SEM/EDX, XRD and pyrolysis–GC–MS under reasonable condition. Results showed that both surface area and pore volume of treated sample were conspicuous increased partial due to dissolution of silica and organic polar-components. Morphological change of plant cell wall surface was viewed as damage such as exfoliation, cave and fracture appeared on epidermis, vascular bundles. The crystallinity index of residual cellulose microcrystalline was widely enhanced because amorphous hemicellulose was removed off while crystalline was changeless. Under hot acid solution reaction, amorphous hemicellulose was hydrolyzed and leaving larger perfect cellulose thus increasing of crystalline size. Those available cellulose was obvious exposed after acid treatment and gave intensive characteristic peak on pyrogram analyzed by pyrolysis–GC–MS.