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High yield production of microcrystalline cellulose by a thermo‐mechano‐solvolytic treatment
Author(s) -
Garnier G.,
Bouchard J.,
Overend R. P.,
Chornet E.,
Vidal P. F.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
the canadian journal of chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1939-019X
pISSN - 0008-4034
DOI - 10.1002/cjce.5450680114
Subject(s) - depolymerization , microcrystalline cellulose , cellulose , degree of polymerization , yield (engineering) , hydrolysis , polymerization , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , polymer chemistry , ethylene glycol , materials science , crystallinity , chemistry , chemical engineering , nuclear chemistry , organic chemistry , polymer , composite material , engineering
By thermally treating a commercial cellulose in ethylene glycol, celluloses of controlled low degree of polymerization, DP r = 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.