Response Surface Methodology: A Versatile Tool for the Optimization of Particle Sizes of Cellulose Beads

Abstract

Synthesis parameters are of utmost importance for controlling the particle sizes of cellulose beads. This study aims to investigate the effects of synthesis parameters e.g., stirring speed (250–1250 rpm), surfactant concentrations (0.5–6.0% w/v), cellulose concentrations (1–5% w/v), and reaction temperature (30-100°C) on the particle sizes for micron-sized cellulose beads (µCBs) as well as other parameters e.g. the volume (1.0 mL) and concentration (0.1–1.0% w/v) of cellulose for nanosized (nCBs) cellulose beads using the response surface methodology (RSM). A total of 27 runs were conducted applying RSM based on the central composite design approach with Minitab-19. Cellulose concentrations were shown to have the most significant effect on both µCBs and nCBs. Under optimized conditions, the minimum and maximum mean particle size of µCBs that could be achieved were 15.3 µm and 91 µm, respectively. The predicted mean particle size for nCBs was obtained at 0.01 nm as the smallest and 200 nm as the biggest particle size under the optimum conditions. This study envisages that RSM and experiments for targeted applications such as biomedicine and agriculture could optimize the particle sizes of cellulose beads.