Fabrication of cellulose nanofibers from parenchyma cells of pears and apples

Abstract

Cellulose nanofibers were isolated from parenchyma cells of pears and apples by one-time fibrillation using a grinding apparatus after the removal of matrix substances. The fibrillated cellulose samples were observed by field emission scanning electron microscopy, and were found to have a fine nano-structure. That is, the structure was uniform with an average width of approximately 18 nm and a high aspect ratio. These appearances were similar to those for nanofibers from wood. The fabricated nanofibers were characterized by FT-IR spectra and X-ray diffraction profiles, which showed that cellulose nanofibers were extracted, and the cellulose I crystal structure was maintained after a series of chemical treatments and grinding processing.