Utilizing Rayon Fiber Residues from Fiber Manufacturing Industry for Preparation of Cellulose/CMC Hydrogels

Abstract

The cellulose-based hydrogel was successfully prepared from rayon fiber residue obtained from the fiber manufacturing industry. By chemical means, the hydrogel was simply prepared at an ambient temperature by mixing rayon with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) in NaOH/urea solution with epichlorohydrin (ECH) as a crosslinking agent. Rayon cellulose was used for stabilizing of hydrogel structure, providing a dimensional stability to the hydrogel whereas CMC acted as a porogen, widening the pore size within the hydrogel structure while swelling in water. With increasing CMC content, the percent water uptake of the hydrogel was increased but the structural stability was impaired. The prepared rayon cellulose/CMC hydrogel could take up more than 200% water within 60 minutes with an appropriate rayon cellulose-to-CMC ratio of 1:1 providing an ultimate balance between percent water uptake and the structural stability of the hydrogel. Its percent water uptake was as high as 285% to its initial dry weight.