Preparation and characterization of nano-cellulose with new shape from different precursor.

Three different precursor materials - 1. China cotton, 2. South African cotton, 3. Waste tissue papers were used to produce nano-cellulose by acid hydrolysis route. No chemical pretreatment has been done for the production of nano-cellulose from these precursors. Prepared nano-cellulose and their corresponding precursor materials were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), particle size analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) study, thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) analysis and Fourier transformed infra red (FTIR) spectroscopy. A comparative study of the characteristics was done with the properties of raw materials and with that of nano-cellulose. Shape and size of the nano cellulose generally depends on nature of the precursor and hydrolysis condition. Morphology study of nano-cellulose from different sources revealed range of length from 50 to 200 nm and diameter from 10 to 90 nm. Higher thermal stability and crystallinity of nano-cellulose were observed compared to that of precursor from TGA/DSC study.