Preparation and properties of regenerated cellulose hydrogels

Abstract

The regenerated cellulose (RCE) hydrogels were successfully prepared via an easy and green environmental method in N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO) aqueous solution. The effect of cellulose content on the thermostability properties, swelling behavior and retention rate of hydrogels was investigated. The thermostability of RCE hydrogels was slightly enhanced with the addition of 8 wt% cellulose, the highest decomposition temperature rose from 335 °C to 352 °C, and the least heat loss is about 75.60%. The equilibrium swelling ratio increases from 394.12% for 3% cellulose hydrogels to 619.46% for 8% cellulose hydrogels. The retention ratio increases from 1.13% to 28.46%.