Supramolecular Structure of Cellulose and Nanocrystals: A Literature Review
Supramolecular Structure of Cellulose and Nanocrystals: A Literature Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51473/rcmos.v1i1.2026.2253Keywords:
Cellulose, Nanocrystals, Molecular structureAbstract
Cellulose structure, a type of carbohydrate, presents great importance for a deeper
understanding of its characteristics, such as hydrophilicity, chirality, biodegradability, and
functionalization. The cellulose molecule is synthesized by the multimeric transmembrane
complex, cellulose synthase (CESA), on the plant cell plasmalemma. Cellulose chains form
numerous hydrogen bonds with one another, leading to their crystallization into rigid,
insoluble rods and amorphous regions via the D-glucopyranose monomer. Depending on
the specific extraction process employed and/or the subsequent treatment it receives,
cellulose may exhibit different crystalline structures; it is therefore considered a
polymorphic material. These cellulose polymorphs are well-established, with the primary
forms being Cellulose I, II, III, and IV. As a consequence of the various conformations,
two popular cellulose polymorphs, within a cellulose microcrystal: a parallel-chain
structure and an antiparallel-chain structure, are characteristic of Cellulose I and Cellulose
II, respectively. Currently, CNCs, a type of nanocellulose, are obtained by various methods,
including enzymatic hydrolysis, ultrasound-assisted hydrolysis, and dissolution in N, Ndimethylacetamide (DMAc)/LiCl or in ionic liquids. However, acid hydrolysis remains the
most widely utilized methodology. Finally, the morphology, dimensions, and properties of
these nanocrystals are heavily dependent on reaction conditions such as time, temperature, concentration, and the specific type of acid used, and these factors will also be discussed
in this literature review to elucidate the distinctions between cellulose and nanocellulose
based on their differing physicochemical characteristics.
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