Premium
Direct visualization of synthetic cellulose formation via enzymatic polymerization using transmission electron microscopy
Author(s) -
Kobayashi Shiro,
Shoda Shinichiro,
Lee Jong,
Okuda Kazuo,
Brown R. Malcolm,
Kuga Shigenori
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.1994.021950416
Subject(s) - cellulose , transmission electron microscopy , polymerization , polymer chemistry , materials science , electron microscope , chemistry , polymer science , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , polymer , optics , engineering , physics
The process of synthetic cellulose formation in an acetonitrile‐buffer solvent system by enzymatic polymerization of β‐cellobiosyl fluoride monomer using cellulase as a catalyst was visualized by transmission electron microscopy. Synthetic cellulose could be observed as soon as 30 s after initiation of the polymerization. A micellar phase separation occurred at the initial stage of the reaction. Irregular aggregates of cellulose were formed at the boundary of the micellar particles, suggesting that the interface is the site of polymerization. The cellulose product after treatment with hot surfactant solution was strongly labeled with cellobiohydrolase I‐gold complexes, indicating that the produced polymer is cellulose. The electron diffraction pattern of the product showed the typical pattern of crystal structure of cellulose II.