Nanostructure of cellulose microfibrils in spruce wood
University of Nottingham · University of Bath · +6 more institutions
Abstract
The structure of cellulose microfibrils in wood is not known in detail, despite the abundance of cellulose in woody biomass and its importance for biology, energy, and engineering. The structure of the microfibrils of spruce wood cellulose was investigated using a range of spectroscopic methods coupled to small-angle neutron and wide-angle X-ray scattering. The scattering data were consistent with 24-chain microfibrils and favored a "rectangular" model with both hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces exposed. Disorder in chain packing and hydrogen bonding was shown to increase outwards from the microfibril center. The extent of disorder blurred the distinction between the I alpha and I beta allomorphs. Chains at…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 20.07
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 87
Authors
8Topics & keywords
- Microfibril
- Cellulose
- Hydrogen bond
- Lignin
- Materials science
- Nanostructure
- Cell wall
- Chemical engineering