Synthesis of cellulose microcrystals (CMC)/nylon 6,10 composite by incorporating CMC isolated from Pandanus ceylanicus

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers 2020-08, Vol.241, p.116227-116227, Article 116227
• Main Authors: Weerappuliarachchi, J.W.M.E.S., Perera, I.C., Gunathilake, S.S., Thennakoon, S.K.S., Dassanayake, B.S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Caprolactam - analogs & derivatives; Caprolactam - chemistry; Cellulose; Cellulose - chemistry; Cellulose microcrystals; Nylon 6,10; Pandanaceae; Pandanus leaves; Plant Leaves - chemistry; Polymers - chemistry; Sulfuric Acids - chemistry; Water - chemistry; Water absorption
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.116227

•Synthesis of cellulose crystals (CCs) with diameter 0.8–0.9 μm.•Introduction of novel candidate plant, Pandanus ceylanicus for CC extraction.•Short and easy procedure for CC synthesis.•Use of minimum amount of chemicals for CC extraction.•CC incorporated nylon 6,10 fibers shows improved water absorption. The paper presents a novel candidate plant: Pandanus ceylanicus (PC) for cellulose extraction. The plant showed an average of 91.5 ± 0.2 % of cellulose yield which is the highest yield for Pandanus species reported. Cellulose was extracted from the leaves of the plant by carrying out alkali and bleaching treatments, and cellulose microcrystals (CMC) were isolated from extracted cellulose fibers with sulphuric acid treatment. Chemical composition of PC leaves was investigated at different stages of treatment by using TAPPI standard methods. The extracted globular shaped CMC crystals had an average diameter less than a micro meter. Results revealed that PC leaves are an efficient source of micro-cellulose which result in a high yield than most lignocellulosic biomasses. The CMCs were successfully incorporated with nylon 6,10 by in-situ interfacial polymerization of sebacoyl chloride and hexamethylenediamine in the presence of CMC. The CMC/nylon 6,10 composite showed improved water absorption with low water retention time.