Sains Malaysiana 44(11)(2015): 1635-1642

Isolation and Fractionation of Cellulose Nanocrystals from Kenaf Core

(Pemencilan dan Pemecahan Selulosa Nanohablur daripada Teras Kenaf)

HANISAH SYED SULAIMAN, CHI HOONG CHAN, CHIN HUA CHIA*, SARANI ZAKARIA

& SHARIFAH NABIHAH SYED JAAFAR

Bioresources and Biorefinery Laboratory, School of Applied Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Received: 28 March 2015/Accepted: 17 June 2015

ABSTRACT

In this study, cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) were produced using acid hydrolysis method. Kenaf core was pretreated with 4 wt. % sodium hydroxide (NaOH), followed by bleaching using 1.7 wt. % sodium chlorite (NaClO₂) in acetate buffer. The bleached fiber was acid hydrolyzed for 45 and 55 min using 64 wt. % sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄). The size distribution of the CNC segregated via differential centrifugation with different speed was also investigated. The CNC suspension obtained was centrifuged at 3000, 6000, 9000 and 12000 rpm. The resultant CNC suspension collected was characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). FTIR results showed the progressive removal of non-cellulosic constituents for each subsequent treatment. It also showed that the CNC produced after hydrolysing for 55 min has the highest degree of crystallinity (81.15%). CNC produced from acid hydrolysis process of 45 min have lengths between 50 and 270 nm while CNC produced from acid hydrolysis process of 55 min have length around 40 to 370 nm.

Keywords: Acid hydrolysis; cellulose nanocrystal; kenaf core

ABSTRAK

Dalam kajian ini, selulosa nanohablur (CNC) dihasilkan menggunakan kaedah hidrolisis asid. Teras kenaf yang digunakan sebagai bahan mentah diprarawat menggunakan 4 bt. % natrium hidroksida (NaOH). Serabut yang telah dirawat kemudian dilunturkan menggunakan natrium klorit (NaClO₂). Hidrolisis asid telah dijalankan selama 45 dan 55 minit ke atas serabut yang telah dilunturkan menggunakan 64 bt. % asid sulfurik (H₂SO₄). Taburan saiz CNC yang dihasilkan dikaji menggunakan teknik pengemparan dengan kelajuan yang berbeza. Ampaian CNC yang terhasil diemparkan pada kelajuan 3000, 6000, 9000 dan 12000 rpm. Ampaian CNC yang terhasil dianalisis menggunakan spektroskopi Fourier inframerah (FTIR), pembelauan sinar-X (XRD) dan mikroskop elektron transmisi (TEM). Keputusan FTIR menunjukkan penyingkiran unsur-unsur bukan selulosa pada setiap rawatan. CNC yang terhasil selepas proses hidrolisis selama 55 minit mempunyai darjah kehabluran yang tertinggi pada 81.15% melalui analisis XRD. CNC yang telah dihidrolisis selama 45 minit mempunyai panjang antara 50 dan 270 nm, manakala CNC yang telah dihidrolisis selama 55 minit mempunyai panjang sekitar 40 ke 370 nm.

Kata kunci: Hidrolisis asid; selulosa nanohablur; teras kenaf

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*Corresponding author; email: chia@ukm.edu.my