Preparation of Cellulose Nanocrystals Using an Ionic Liquid

In this paper cellulose nanocrystals were prepared
by treating microcrystalline cellulose with 1-butyl-
3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulphate ionic liquid.
Cellulose nanocrystals, after separation from ionic liquid,
were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier
transform infrared (FTIR), Field emission scanning electron
microscopy (FESEM) Transmission Electron Microscope
(TEM) and Thermogravimetric analysis. XRD
results showed no changes in type of cellulose after the
treatment with ionic liquid, however, high crystallinity
index was observed in the ionic liquid treated sample.
Cellulose nanocrystals, having length around 50–300 nm
and diameter around 14–22 nm were observed in the ionic
liquid treated sample under FESEM and TEM, and similar
patterns of peaks as that of microcrystalline cellulose were
observed for cellulose nanocrystals in the FTIR spectra.
The thermal stability of the cellulose nanocrystals was
measured low as compare to microcrystalline cellulose