A PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF CELLULOSE NANOPARTICLES USING THE FUNGUS, TRICHODERMA REESEI

摘要

Cellulose nanoparticles were prepared by hydrolysis of macrocrystalline cellulose (MCC) by an ecofriendly process using the cellulase producing fungus Trichoderma reesei. This fungus was grown under submerged fermentation in a growth medium having MCC as the sole carbon source. After five days of incubation, the cellulose nanoparticles were separated from medium by centrifugation at 1000 rpm and purified by membrane filtration (through 100 kilo Dalton membrane filter). The cellulose nanoparticles were analyzed by dynamic light scattering particle size analysis and atomic force microscopy. The average particle diameter of cellulose nanoparticles is less than 50 nm as analyzed by dynamic light scattering particle size analyzer. The average length and thickness of cellulose nanoparticles were less than 50 and 300 nm, respectively as analyzed by atomic force microscopy. The traditional process for preparation of cellulose nanoparticles by concentrated sulfuric acid hydrolysis process is energy intensive and environmentally hazardous. The said invention is the microbial process for preparation of cellulose nanoparticles, which is also eco-friendly.