Cellulose nano sizing by enzymatic treatment

Abstract

In recent years, enormous researches on cellulose nanofiber have been reported. For the preparation of these cellulose nanofiber, acid hydrolysis or mechanical crushing is commonly used. Cellulase attacks cellulose, and sometimes it splits cellulose. This process is to be available for the production of cellulose nanofiber, and this will reduce the environmental impact during the process. For instance, endoglucanase treatment was processed to the high crystalline cellulose microfibril while adding mechanical processing such as ball milling, the cellulose microfibril split and the diameter of the fiber became thinner than the original one.