Optical characterisation of size, shape and fibrillarity from microfibrillar and microcrystalline cellulose, and fine ground wood powder fractions

摘要

Fast analysis and characterisation of small lignocellulosic particles are known to be problematic when samples contain large number of particles. New methods to quantify the size, shape and structural properties of cellulose microparticles and wood powders are needed. In this paper, we present a measurement scheme based on the flow cytometry analysis of microparticles that can, after sample fractionation, analyse cellulose and wood microparticles for their relative size, degree of fibrillation (representing the delaminated fine surface structure) and aspect ratio. Laser diffraction-based analysis is used as a reference method for particle size and the studied samples are visualised and quantified for aspect ratio and surface characteristics using an electron microscope.