Evaluation of microcrystalline cellulose prepared from kenaf fibers

A series of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) were prepared from bleached kraft pulp of kenaf bast and core and compared with that from wood pulp. Hydrolysis of three kinds of pulp was carried out using hydrochloric acid. The properties of the produced MCC such as degree of polymerization (DP), crystallinity index (CrI), morphological features, bulk and tapping density, particle size and particle size distribution were examined, respectively. Highly native crystalline cellulose I form was characterized from all MCC samples. CrI values indicated that MCC from kenaf core (MCC-C) was more amorphous than both MCC from kenaf bast (MCC-B) and MCC from wood pulp (MCC-W). SEM micrographs showed that MCC-B and MCC-W displayed a rod-shaped morphology in their aggregates; MCC-C appeared to be a form of clusters. MCC-B had higher bulk and tapping density followed by MCC-W and MCC-C. The particle size distribution patterns indicated that all kinds of MCC samples fitted log-normal distribution and particle size mostly located in the range of 2–500 μm.