High yield production of microcrystalline cellulose by a thermo‐mechano‐solvolytic treatment

Abstract

By thermally treating a commercial cellulose in ethylene glycol, celluloses of controlled low degree of polymerization, DPr = 1000 to 70, can be derived. Two general behaviors are observed in the range studied. At first, the depolymerization reaction is predominant down to a DP equal to 130. Beyond this level, the depolymerization process leads to extensive solubilization of the cellulose. The treated celluloses have been analyzed by X‐ray diffraction, FTIR, TGA, elemental analysis and enzymatic hydrolysis. No chemical change of the cellulose could explain the two different behaviors. A physical modification in the form of depolymerization and destructuration is suspected.

Coupled acid and enzyme mediated production of microcrystalline cellulose from corn cob and cotton gin waste

“…All samples exhibited similar crystalline patterns. The widths at half height for the peaks at 2h = 17°and 26°are similar for all samples which suggests that their crystallite sizes are similar (Garnier et al 1990). In the case of the cotton gin waste MCC, an extra sharp peak was observed at 2h = 31°which was attributed to impurity quartz crystals in the sample.…”

The behavior of ethylene glycol during the thermal solvolysis of cellulose

“…T catalysed thermal organosolve treatment of lignocellulosics (Chornet et al, 1986) has been shown to solubilize lignin in high yield (Thring et al, 1989) and to produce a high purity cellulose (Bouchard et al, 1990). Despite the high temperatures used in this treatment the yield of cellulose is close the theoretical and the degree of polymerization (DP) can be maintained above 1200.…”