Isolation and Characterization of Cellulose Microfibrils and Nanocrystals from Corn Silk

摘要

For the value-added utilization of discarded agricultural wastes,corn silk( CS) obtained abundantly in the farming field has been tested as a new source of cellulosic materials. Cellulose microfibril( CMF) and cellulose nanocrystal( CNC) were isolated from CS by ethanol and alkali pretreatments,and acid hydrolysis.The characterization was performed by scanning electron microscopy( SEM),Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy( FT-IR),X-ray diffraction( XRD), thermogravimetric analysis( TGA) and transmission electron microscopy( TEM). After chemical pretreatments,the lignin,hemicelluloses and other non-structural components were removed. The degree of crystallinity and thermal stability of CMF and CNC were increased compared to raw CS. The crystallinity indexes of CS,CMF and CNC were 45. 90%,65. 77%,and 73. 75% respectively. The CNC was flat and rod like shape with diameter and aspect ratio range of 13. 96-33. 69 nm and 34. 34-23. 02 nm respectively. The nanocrystals had an alternative potential to be used as reinforcing filler for bio-nanocomposites preparation.