Home > Press > Iranian Researchers Extract Nano-Cellulose from Wheat Straw
Abstract:
Iranian researchers at Tarbiat Modarres University managed to extract cellulose nanocrystals from wheat straw (one of the agricultural wastes).
Iranian Researchers Extract Nano-Cellulose from Wheat Straw
Tehran, Iran | Posted on September 15th, 2011
"Cellulose is a kind of natural polymer which has a highly organized microfibrillar structure and is constantly produced by plants and some animals. Our research subject was to extract these nanostructures and study their properties", Dr. Rabi Behrouz, a faculty member and the research deputy of the natural resources department at Tarbiat Modarres University, said.
The process of extraction, cellulose properties, and effect of hydrolysis conditions on the production of cellulose nanocrystals from wheat straw (one of the agricultural wastes) were investigated in this research.
Elaborating on the nano-cellulose extraction process, Behrouz stated, "Two different two-step methods were adopted to extract and purify cellulose. The first step was different in the two methods and comprised acid/base lignin elimination and soda-anthraquinone."
"The second one was similar in both methods and comprised extraction of holocellulose and cellulose. The purity of cellulose samples was analyzed. Sample cellulose with higher crystallinity degree was chosen and underwent hydrolysis."
"The results reveal that nano-cellulose obtained from one of the methods has higher purity but it has less crystallinity degree. SEM and TEM images show that the shape and morphology of nanocrystals could be spherical, rod-like or a combination of them according to the conditions," he added.
Owing to exclusive resistance properties and its natural essence, cellulose nanoparticles have extensive applications in cosmetic industry, medical and electronic equipments, food and high quality papers especially nanocomposites.
####
For more information, please click here
Copyright © Fars News Agency
If you have a comment, please
Contact us.
Issuers of news releases, not 7th Wave, Inc. or Nanotechnology Now, are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.
Bookmark:
News and information
Aspen Aerogels Announces $22.5 Million Private Placement May 18th, 2013
NanoInk, Inc. Assets To Be Sold May 18th, 2013
Beautiful "flowers" self-assemble in a beaker: Elaborate nanostructures blossom from a chemical reaction perfected at Harvard May 17th, 2013
Scientists capture first direct proof of Hofstadter butterfly effect May 17th, 2013
Discoveries
Beautiful "flowers" self-assemble in a beaker: Elaborate nanostructures blossom from a chemical reaction perfected at Harvard May 17th, 2013
Artificial Forest for Solar Water-Splitting: Berkeley Lab Researchers Report First Fully Integrated Artificial Photosynthesis Nanosystem May 17th, 2013
Moth-Inspired Nanostructures Take the Color Out of Thin Films May 17th, 2013
Scientists capture first direct proof of Hofstadter butterfly effect May 17th, 2013
Materials
Advancements and developments of solid-state nanopores sensors May 16th, 2013
Physicists discover a new kind of friction: Friction in the nano-world May 16th, 2013
Squishy hydrogels may be the ticket for studying biological effects of nanoparticles May 15th, 2013
Pitt Chemists Demonstrate Nanoscale Alloys So Bright They Could Have Potential Medical Applications: “Think about a particle that will not only help researchers detect cancer sooner but be used to treat the tumor, too.” May 15th, 2013
Announcements
Aspen Aerogels Announces $22.5 Million Private Placement May 18th, 2013
NanoInk, Inc. Assets To Be Sold May 18th, 2013
NIA Public Briefing: Nanotechnology and the Council of Europe May 17th, 2013
Scientists capture first direct proof of Hofstadter butterfly effect May 17th, 2013
Food/Agriculture/Supplements
Plants ‘talk’ to plants to help them grow May 8th, 2013
Thailand promote agricultural and medical sector at BIO 2013 May 6th, 2013
Microchip proves tightness provokes precocious sperm release April 29th, 2013
Greener methods for making popular nanoparticle April 24th, 2013