Characterization of Cellulose Microfibrils Obtained from Hemp

Abstract EN

Microfibrillated cellulose was extracted from hemp fibres using steam explosion pretreatment and high-intensity ultrasonic treatment (HIUS).

The acquired results after steam explosion treatment and water and alkali treatments are discussed and interpreted by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the microstructure of hemp fibres before and after each treatment.

A fibre size analyser was used to analyse the dimensions of the untreated and treated cellulose fibrils.

SEM observations show that the sizes of the different treated fibrils have a diameter range of several micrometres, but after HIUS treatment fibres are separate from microfibrils, nanofibres, and their agglomerates.