Cellulose whiskers extracted from mulberry: A novel biomass production

A kind of cellulose whiskers were extracted from the branch-barks of mulberry (Morus alba L.) by an alkali treatment at 130 °C and subsequently a sulfuric acid hydrolysis. AFM image showed that the diameter of obtained whiskers was ranged from 20 to 40 nm. The chemical compositions analysis, FT-IR, XRD results indicated that the hemicellulose and lignin were removed extensively in the cellulose whiskers, with a crystallinity of 73.4%. The TGA curves implied a two-stage thermal decomposition behavior of cellulose whisker due to the introduction of sulfated groups into the crystals in the sulfuric acid hydrolysis process. The obtained whiskers may have the potential applications in the fields of composites as a reinforcing phase, as well as in pharmaceutical and optical industries as additives.