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Relationship between Length and Degree of Polymerization of TEMPO-Oxidized Cellulose Nanofibrils

Biomacromolecules · 2012 · Vol. 13(3) · pp. 842–849

R. Shinoda✉(The University of Tokyo)Tsuguyuki Saito(The University of Tokyo)Yusuke Okita(The University of Tokyo)Akira Isogai(The University of Tokyo)

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Abstract

The influence of 2,2,6,6-tetrametylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO)-mediated oxidation of wood cellulose and the mechanical disintegration of oxidized cellulose in water on degree of polymerization determined by viscosity measurement (DP(v)) and the apparent length of the TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (TOCNs) was investigated. DP(v) values decreased from 1270 to 500-600 with increasing addition of NaClO in the TEMPO-mediated oxidation stage. The DP(v) values were further decreased by mechanical fibrillation in water. There is a linear relationship between the average fibril length and DP(v); the lengths of TOCNs can be approximated from DP(v) using 0.5 M copper ethylenediamine as a solvent of both the cellulose and oxidized celluloses in TOCNs. Based on the cellulose fibril models and TEMPO oxidation mechanism, the depolymerization behavior of TOCNs is tentatively explained in terms of distribution of disordered regions in wood cellulose fibrils and formation of C6-aldehydes in cellulose fibrils during TEMPO-mediated oxidation.

Advanced Cellulose Research Studies Electrospun Nanofibers in Biomedical Applications Nanocomposite Films for Food PackagingDegree of polymerizationPolymerizationCelluloseDegree (music)Polymer chemistryChemistryChemical engineeringPolymer scienceOrganic chemistryPolymer