Electron beam irradiation of cellulose

Using a 90 kW, 3 MeV Dynamitron™, the molecular weight of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) was reduced from 82,000 to 5000 Da with a dose of 100 kGy. The relative crystallinity of the MCC was reduced from 87% to 45% with a dose of 1000 kGy. The available surface area, an indication on how well cellulose will react with chemical agents, was increased from 274 m2/g for the control sample (0 kGy) to 318 m2/g at a dose 1000 kGy.