Alpha-Cellulose Extraction from Wheat Bran for Preparing Cellulose Nanofibers

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Textile Engineering,Sience and Research Branch , Islamic Azad University,Tehran,Iran.

2 Department of Microbiology , Islamic Azad University Medical Sience Branch, Tehran,Iran.

3 Department of Textile Engineering ,Islamic Azad University South,Tehran,Iran.

4 Department of Pharmacy ,Islamic Azad University Pharmaceutical Sciences Branch,Tehran,Iran.

Abstract

 Cellulose nanofibers showed varied application in filters, medical and composites reinforcement attributed toabundant resources, large specific surface area, biocompatibility and biodegradation. In this study the feasibilityof using wheat bran as a vast product of wheat cultivation to produce cellulose nanofibers was investigated. Extracting cellulose from wheat bran was carried out by means of chemical-mechanical procedure. The structure, chemical composition and thermal properties of cellulose fibers were characterized by means of Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Finally, cellulose nanofibers were produced via an electrospinning method using Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) as the solvent. Electrospinning has been successfully demonstrated as a one step process to produce nanofibers, thereby showing great potential for reducing cost and making the fiber producing process more environmental friendly. The ability to produce cellulose fibers directly from wheat bran with improved properties could potentially result in the development of more high value-added products globally.

Keywords