Synthesis of redispersible spherical cellulose II nanoparticles decorated with carboxylate groups

Abstract

Cellulose II gels from a product line of the Lyocell fiber process were transformed into spherical nanoparticles by carboxymethylation and subsequent homogenization. Three populations of nanoparticles were synthesized and their particle size analysis by TEM and DLS revealed a dependence of the size on the amount of introduced carboxylate groups. The higher the amount of functionalization, the smaller the particle sizes. The three synthesized nanocolloidal populations feature a mean size of 73 nm, 107 nm and 129 nm and degree of substitution of 0.15, 0.09 and 0.04, respectively. After drying, the particles can easily be redispersed in water which distinguishes them from most alternative cellulosic nanomaterials.