A novel effective approach of nanocrystalline cellulose production: oxidation–hydrolysis strategy

In this work, we have applied, for the first time, solution plasma processing of cellulose-containing material to produce cellulose nanocrystals (CNC). The CNC samples produced in three different modes of solution plasma treatment were characterized using methods of dynamic light scattering, infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The proposed method of CNC production comprising the oxidation–hydrolysis strategy has proved to be effective and allowed us to reduce significantly the time of acid hydrolysis and to increase considerably the total CNC yield.