Cryogenic grinding of cotton fiber cellulose: The effect on physicochemical properties

The study evaluated the effect of cryogrinding, a relatively new, cost-effective, and sustainable mechanical treatment method, on physicochemical properties of two different micronaire (3.6- and 5.3-) cotton fiber cellulose. Native (type I), mercerized (type II), and acidulated cellulose were subjected to cryogrinding for 48 and 96 min, and their physicochemical properties were investigated. The results demonstrated that cryogrinding resulted in partial amorphization of native and mercerized celluloses, particle size decrease, and a slight reduction of T_50%. Importantly, degree of polymerization (DP) of native cellulose reduced significantly: more than two-fold after 12 cycles and more than three-fold after 24 cycles of cryogrinding. No difference in properties was found between 3.6- and 5.3-micronaire cellulose. Advantageous impacts of cryogrinding found in this work will help signify the potential of this technique in cellulose processing and enable the identification of areas for future development.