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A technique for production of nanocrystalline cellulose with a narrow size distribution

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Abstract

Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) was prepared by sulfuric acid hydrolysis of microcrystalline cellulose. A differential centrifugation technique was studied to obtain NCC whiskers with a narrow size distribution. It was shown that the volume of NCC in different fractions had an inverse relationship with relative centrifugal force (RCF). The length of NCC whiskers was also fractionized by differential RCF. The aspect ratio of NCC in different fractions had a relatively narrow range. This technique provides an easy way of producing NCC whiskers with a narrow size distribution.

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Acknowledgments

Financial support for this research was provided by Schill + Seilacher “Struktol” AG, Hamburg, Germany.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wood Science & Engineering Department, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA

    Wen Bai & Kaichang Li

  2. Energy and Environment Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA

    James Holbery

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  1. Wen Bai
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  2. James Holbery
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  3. Kaichang Li
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Correspondence to Kaichang Li.

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Bai, W., Holbery, J. & Li, K. A technique for production of nanocrystalline cellulose with a narrow size distribution. Cellulose 16, 455–465 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-009-9277-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-009-9277-1

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