Visualizing Degradation of Cellulose Nanofibers by Acid Hydrolysis.

ABSTRACT: Cellulose hydrolysis is an extensively studied process due to its relevance in the fields of biofuels, chemicals production, and renewable nanomaterials. However, the direct visualization of the process accompanied with detailed scaling has not been reported because of the vast morphological alterations occurring in cellulosic fibers in typical heterogeneous (solid/liquid) hydrolytic systems. Here, we overcome this distraction by exposing hardwood cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) deposited on silica substrates to pressurized HCl gas in a solid/gas system and examine the changes in individual CNFs by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results revealed that hydrolysis proceeds via an intermediate semi-fibrous stage before objects reminiscent of cellulose nanocrystals were formed. The length of th

SUBMITTER: Spiliopoulos P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8045026 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature