Cellulose Fibers Dissolution in Alkaline Solution

Yasmeen Salih Mahdi; Asem Hassan Mohammed; Alaa Kareem Mohammed

Authors

Yasmeen Salih Mahdi Department of Biochemical Engineering/ Al-Khwarizmi Engineering College/ University of Baghdad
Asem Hassan Mohammed Institute of Technology Baghdad/ Chemical Industries/ Middle technical University
Alaa Kareem Mohammed Department of Biochemical Engineering/ Al-Khwarizmi Engineering College/ University of Baghdad

Abstract

In this study, NaOH dissolution method was applied to dissolve cellulose fibers which extracted from date palm fronds (type Al-Zahdi) taken from Iraqi gardens. In this process, (NaOH)-solution is brought into contact with the cellulose fibers at low temperature. Experiments were conducted with different concentrations of NaOH (4%, 6%, 8% and12%) weight percent at two cooling bath temperatures (-15^oC) and (-20^oC). Maximum cellulose dissolution was 23 wt% which obtained at 8 wt% concentration of NaOH and at cooling bath temperature of -20^oC. In order to enhance the cellulose fibers dissolution, the sample was pretreated with Fenton's reagent which consists of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), oxalic acid (C₂H₂O₄) and ferrous sulfate (FeSO₄). This reagent reacts with cellulose fibers and produces free radicals which increase cellulose dissolution. In this work three variables were studied: cooling bath temperature (-15^oCand-20^oC), NaOH concentration (4%, 6%, 8% and12%) and time of Fenton's reagent treatment (1-48) hrs. The results showed that the best percent of cellulose dissolution was (42 wt %) which occurred at treatment time (24 hours), temperature (-20^oC) and NaOH concentration 8%. In another set of experiments urea was added to NaOH solution as a catalyst with proportion (6%NaOH+4% urea) at two temperatures -15 and -20^oC. The results show that the solubility of cellulose increase to 62% for the sample which treated with Fenton's reagent and to 35% for the untreated sample, both values were obtained at -15^oC.

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