Structural changes during swelling of highly charged cellulose fibres
2015
Sjöstedt, Anna | Wohlert, Jakob | Larsson, P Tomas | Wågberg, Lars
Structural changes of fibrils and fibril aggregates in the fibre wall were studied after oxidation of the cellulose by 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy to high charge densities (highest charge density: 1300 μeq/g). The increase in pore volume was measured by mini-WRV at two different pH levels, and the supramolecular structure in the fibre wall in terms of aggregate size, specific surface area and average pore size was measured by solid state NMR, DVS desorption and BET N₂ gas adsorption. A structural change in the arrangement of the fibrils inside the fibril aggregates was observed although the oxidation did not lead to a complete liberation of individual fibrils, i.e. they still exist as an aggregated structure after oxidation. Theoretical estimates suggest that the electrostatic repulsion energy connected with the increase in surface charge of the fibrils can be sufficient to gradually separate the fibrils enough to expose all fibril surfaces to oxidation chemicals.
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