A comparison of methods for obtaining nanocellulose using acid and ionic liquid hydrolysis reactions

A comparison of methods for obtaining nanocellulose using acid and ionic liquid hydrolysis reactions. In this study, two methods were compared, i.e. acid hydrolysis using sulphuric acid (VI) and ionic liquid hydrolysis using 1-methyl-3-butylimidazolium chloride to obtain nanocellulose from Sigmacell Cellulose Type 20. The efficiency of both processes was tested for weight loss of the material during the reaction. The study showed that much more material can be obtained using ionic liquid hydrolysis than using acid hydrolysis. A dynamic light scattering study was performed to determine material particle size before and after these processes. Particles of nanometric size were recorded only for cellulose after the reaction with an ionic liquid. In addition, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was performed to determine the chemical structure of the materials tested.