Chlorine-free extraction of cellulose from rice husk and whisker isolation

► Cellulose whiskers can be isolated from rice husk and show good aspect ratio. ► Cellulose can be extracted from rice husk by a chlorine free multistep procedure. ► Cellulose thermally decomposes by depolymerisation and by release of gas products. ► Cellulose obtained from rice husk shows high crystallinity.