Preparation and comparative assessment of regenerated cellulose films from corn (Zea mays) stalk pulp fines in DMAc/LiCl solution.

In this study, cellulosic fines were separated from corn stalk soda-anthraquinone (AQ) pulp, then dissolved in DMAc/LiCl solvent system and regenerated to form films. Pulp fines was separated from pulp fibers using different standard sieves. The results exhibited that the value of specific surface area for fines was increased with the reduction of particle size. The cellulose of fines was successfully dissolved in DMAc/LiCl solution and regenerated as biopolymeric films in the water bath. Mechanical properties of regenerated cellulose films were enhanced with the increase of raw-material fineness from 120 to 300 mesh. It was exhibited a remarkable decrease on the values of tensile strength and maximum decomposition temperature of the regenerated cellulose film from 500-mesh fines, indicating that too small dimensions of cellulosic particles took disadvantages on physical strength and thermostability.