Influence of drying method and precipitated salts on pyrolysis for nanocelluloses

The influence of bulk density and drying method on pyrolysis behavior was studied by focusing on the salt content within the nanocellulose (NC) materials. The thermogravimetric curves for NC materials were found to be almost identical between the different bulk densities via the various drying methods. It was therefore concluded that the bulk density and drying method of NC materials had little influence on pyrolysis behavior. By quantitating the remaining salt content within the sulfate-introduced cellulose nanocrystal materials, we discriminated between the sulfate groups bonded onto cellulose and precipitated sulfate from the solvent. The precipitated sulfate was found to accelerate the pyrolysis of NCs in common with the bonded sulfate groups, but in a different rate. These two types of sulfate within the NC materials should have the different catalytic ability on the dehydration of cellulose.