Authors : Jittiporn Saeng-on and Duangdao Aht-Ong
Abstract: This stduy was focused on synthesis of cellulose from corn husk in LiCl/DMAc solvent system by esterification reaction under microwave energy at various microwave power and reaction time using lauroyl chloride and N,N-Dimethy l-4-Amino Pyridine (DMAP) as an esterifying agent and a catalyst, respectively. The obtained modified cellulose powder was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H-NMR) analysis. The Degree of Substitution (DS) value and thermal stability of modified cellulose were evaluated by 1H-NMR and Themogravimetric Analysis (TGA), respectively. Then the modified cellulose powder was transferred into film by casting method with chloroform. The optimum conditions for cellulose modification under microwave heating which yielded low, medium and high DS values along with reasonable %weight increase were obtained at 90’sec 320 W (DS 1.99), 150 sec 160 W (DS 2.44) and 60 sec 240 W (DS 2.73), respectively. The effects of DS values on the wettability, water absorption, gloss and tensile properties of the obtained modified cellulose film were analyzed. The results revealed significant effect of the DS values on the properties of esterified cellulose films that upon increasing the DS values, the gloss value and tensile properties increased while the wettability and water absorption decreased.
Jittiporn Saeng-on and Duangdao Aht-Ong, 2016. Microwave-Assisted Modified Cellulose from Corn Husk: Effects of Reaction Conditions on Degree of Substitution and Film Properties. Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 11: 2337-2343.