Chemically Modified Nanocellulose from Rice Husk: Synthesis and Characterisation

The synthesis of Cellulose nanocrystals by utilizing rice husk an agricultural waste material deserves to be an advanced approach. The present study evaluates the use of rice husk as an excellent source of cellulose to procure cellulose nanocrystals. A chemo-mechanical method was employed. Chemical processes involved alkali treatment, bleaching treatment and acid hydrolysis. Mechanical processes involved ultrasonication, cryocrushing and magnetic stirring. Cellulose nanocrystals have been characterised by scanning electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transformed infrared spectra. The thermal stability of cellulose nanocrystals was investigated using thermogravimetric analysis. The result showed that synthesised cellulose nanocrystals were of the diameter 76.77nm.