The effect of thiourea as an additive on the crystalline structure of cellulose was studied by treating it with different concentrations of sodium hydroxide. The alkali treated cotton linters with and without thiourea as an additive were analyzed by wide-angle X-ray diffraction analysis. The structural transformation of cellulose from cellulose I to cellulose II was observed at 15wt% concentration of sodium hydroxide. The crystallinity of the treated cotton linter declined gradually till 10wt% concentration of sodium hydroxide and at 15wt% concentration of sodium hydroxide was reduced largely with or without the addition of thiourea. The crystallinity index showed a gradual decrease with increasing concentration of sodium hydroxide with or without thiourea as an additive. However, the addition of thiourea at 15wt% concentration of sodium hydroxide had a great impact on lowering the crystallinity of the cellulose.

Alkali pretreatment of cellulose I to cellulose II with thiourea as an additive

249th National Meeting (2015)

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