Carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were produced from cotton linter using a mixture of a dicarboxylic acid (maleic acid or succinic acid) and its corresponding anhydride with or without catalyst. The low solubilities of these dicarboxylic acids can ease chemical recovery and decrease environmental impact and capital costs compared with the conventional concentrated sulfuric acid hydrolysis for producing CNCs. The dicarboxylic-acid-produced CNCs (DC-CNCs) contained surface carboxyl groups of approximately 0.5 mmol/g, with average dimensions of 5–15 nm in diameter and 50–700 nm in length. Birefringence was observed in the DC-CNC suspensions above critical concentrations. However, fingerprint texture was only observed in the DC-CNC suspensions produced with catalysts <i>p</i>-toluenesulfonic acid. Scanning electron microscopy images of the cross section of DC-CNC films revealed a periodic ordered multilayer structure. DC-CNCs produced using recycled dicarboxylic acids showed minimal differences in morphology and surface charge from those using fresh acids.

Carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals with chiral nematic property from cotton by recyclable dicarboxylic acid hydrolysis

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

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