Synthesis of Cellulose Nanofibers by Acid Hydrolysis

Besides acid hydrolysis, alkaline hydrolysis is also prevalent, which focuses on the partial separation of the cellulose fibers from the cell wall and an improvement in the physical and chemical characteristics of cellulose, particularly its reactivity to other chemical agents. 

These treatments are usually made using diluted solutions of NaOH (1-10%) at low or high temperature and concentrated NaOH solutions over 10% only at low temperatures. NH OH and anhydrous NH (gas or liquid) are also used to activate the organic materials, particularly in cases where increased hydrolytic degradation is concentrated upon. In cases of isolation of cellulose nanofibers, treatments with peroxide alkaline solution, peroxide alkaline-hydrochloric acid, 5 wt% potassium hydroxide and 18 wt% potassiimi hydroxide generate cellulose fibers with average diameters between 3 nm to 5 nm [30]. 

4 Synthesis by Treatment with Organic and Ionic Solvents 

However, the mechanical methods of cellulose disintegration into nanosized materials takes into account the consumption of large energy magnitude hence an alternative pathway could be adopted to find some new and environmentally friendly methods for the isolation of cellulose 

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