Ultrasonic-assisted deacetylation of cellulose acetate nanofibers: A rapid method to produce cellulose nanofibers

• Published in: Ultrasonics Sonochemistry Vol. 36; pp. 319 - 325
• Main Authors: Ahmed, Farooq, Ayoub Arbab, Alvira, Jatoi, Abdul Wahab, Khatri, Muzamil, Memon, Najma, Khatri, Zeeshan, Kim, Ick Soo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.05.2017; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Cellulose acetate; Cellulose nanofibers; Deacetylation; Electrospinning; Ultrasonic energy; Electrospinning; Cellulose acetate; Deacetylation; Ultrasonic energy; Cellulose nanofibers
• ISSN: 1350-4177; 1873-2828; 1873-2828
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2016.12.013

[Display omitted] •We report rapid method of deacetylation of cellulose acetate nanofibers.•Ultrasonic assisted deacetylation reduces time from 30h to just 1h.•Ultrasonic rapid method for nanofibers was optimized.•Ultrasonic-assisted deacetylation shows a complete conversion of cellulose acetate into cellulose nanofibers. Herein we report a rapid method for deacetylation of cellulose acetate (CA) nanofibers in order to produce cellulose nanofibers using ultrasonic energy. The CA nanofibers were fabricated via electrospinning thereby treated with NaOH and NaOH/EtOH solutions at various pH levels for 30, 60 and 90min assisted by ultrasonic energy. The nanofiber webs were optimized by degree of deacetylation (DD%) and wicking behavior. The resultant nanofibers were further characterized by FTIR, SEM, WAXD, DSC analysis. The DD% and FTIR results confirmed a complete conversion of CA nanofibers to cellulose nanofibers within 1h with substantial increase of wicking height. Nanofibers morphology under SEM showed slightly swelling and no damage of nanofibers observed by use of ultrasonic energy. The results of ultrasonic-assisted deacetylation are comparable with the conventional deacetylation. Our rapid method offers substantially reduced deacetylation time from 30h to just 1h, thanks to the ultrasonic energy.