Author:

Keywords:

Acid hydrolysis, Chemistry, Chemistry, Applied, Chemistry, Organic, CRYSTALLINITY, FIBERS, Levelling -off degree of polymerization, Microcrystalline cellulose, Physical Sciences, Planetary ball mill, Polymer Science, PRETREATMENT, REINFORCEMENT, Science & Technology, Short insoluble cellulose polymers, WASTE, Levelling-off degree of polymerization, Cellulose, Hydrolysis, Polymerization, Polymers, 0303 Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry, 0305 Organic Chemistry, 0908 Food Sciences, 3006 Food sciences, 3101 Biochemistry and cell biology, 4004 Chemical engineering

Abstract:

Depolymerization of cellulose is often used as a (pre)treatment protocol within the catalytic valorization strategies of cellulose. Typical depolymerization protocols yield polymerization degrees above 70 anhydroglucose units (AGU). However, shorter cellulose fibers are of interest in the search for accessible dietary fiber additives or renewable materials with distinct mechanical properties (bio-composites). In this work, short-polymer microcrystalline celluloses (SMCC) with an average polymerization degree between 29 and 70 AGU were produced with material yields of 95 % and above by combining a planetary ball mill pretreatment with mild acid hydrolysis. By first decreasing the levelling-off degree of polymerization (LODP) with an intensive ball mill treatment, a mild acid hydrolysis protocol was sufficient to ensure high yields of SMCC. Furthermore, the desired polymerization degree could be obtained by tuning the process parameters.