Cellulose Micro/Nanofibres of Merbau (Intsia bijuga) Waste: Effects of Chemical Treatments on Structural and Morphology Features

Cellulosic material derived from Merbau (Intsia bijuga) was isolated at atmospheric pressure. In the first stage, the samples were delignified using peroxyacetic acid to remove the amorphous structure. In the second stage, the samples were double-bleached using hydrogen peroxide and sodium hydroxide. The morphology of the cellulose samples was compared. From the X-ray diffraction (XRD) data, it is evident that both acid and alkali bleached celluloses have rich cellulose I structure

Extraction of Rice Straw Alpha Cellulose Micro/Nano Fibres

Rice straw cellulose a biomass materials, naturally found in abundance. It is low cost, eco-friendly and biodegradable. Alpha cellulose is prepared from rice straw using chemical method namely acid hydrolysis and alkaline treatment. Both of the samples treatments were bleached using sodium chlorite (NaClO2). Alkaline treatment shows higher in producing alpha cellulose, 20.68% rather than 12.20% by acid hydrolysis.</jats:p

X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) Analysis of Cellulose from Banana (&lt;i&gt;Musa acuminata) &lt;/i&gt;Pseudo-Stem Waste

Alkali treatment and bleaching have been applied on banana fibers obtained from harvested pseudo-stem of the banana plant Musa acuminata collected in Banting, Selangor, Malaysia. The structure and morphology of the fibers have been found to be affected by the used of alkaline treatment and bleaching. The crystallite size and percentage crystallinity of the untreated (raw banana fibers) and treated (microfibrils cellulose) fibers were investigated using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). XRD studies shows that the treated cellulose prepared by such chemical treatment (alkali and bleaching treatment) were more crystalline than the untreated banana fibers.</jats:p

The Treated Cellulose Micro/Nano Fibers (CMNF) from Bioresources in Malaysia

Cellulose Micro/Nano fibers (CMNF) from various plants which is Resak (Vatica spp.) waste, Merbau (Intsia bijuga) waste, banana (Musa acuminata) pseudo-stem and pineapple (Ananas comosus) leaf fibers have been isolated and characterized. Isolation of microfibril cellulose from raw fibers was achieved using alkaline treatment and bleaching. The treated and untreated samples were characterized using x-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Characterizations of treated and untreated samples were compared. The comparison between those treated and untreated samples giving different crystallite size, crystallinity, arrangement of CMNF and surface morphology from different plants. Hence, with these information different nanocomposite from CMNF can be constructed and manipulated for various application.</jats:p

Multifunction Web-like Polymeric Network Bacterial Cellulose Derived from SCOBY as Both Electrodes and Electrolytes for Pliable and Low-Cost Supercapacitor

In this work, bacterial cellulose (BC)-based polymer derived from a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) are optimized as both electrodes and electrolytes to fabricate a flexible and free-standing supercapacitor. BC is a multifunction and versatile polymer. Montmorillonite (MMT) and sodium bromide (NaBr) are used to improve mechanical strength and as the ionic source, respectively. From XRD analysis, it is found that the addition of MMT and NaBr has reduced the crystallinity of the electrolyte. Most interaction within the electrolyte happens in the region of the OH band, as verified using FTIR analysis. A maximum room temperature conductivity of (1.09 &plusmn; 0.02) &times; 10&minus;3 S/cm is achieved with 30 wt.% NaBr. The highest conducting SCOBY-based electrolytes have a decompose voltage and ionic transference number of 1.48 V and 0.97, respectively. The multiwalled carbon nanotube is employed as the active material held by the fibrous network of BC. Cyclic voltammetry shows a rectangular shape CV plot with the absence of a redox peak. The supercapacitor is charged and discharged in a zig-zag-shaped Perspex plate for 1000 cycles with a decent performance