Synthesis and Characterization of Cellulose Carbamate from Wood Pulp, Assisted by Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

Abstract

This paper considers the modification of wood-derived cellulose assisted by supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2). Cellulose carbamate derivatives were successfully prepared from softwood pulp at 150 °C and 3000 psi for 6 hours. Compared with conventional methods, SC-CO2 was shown to be more efficient in the modification of wood-derived cellulose. The modified cellulose had a considerable increase in nitrogen content. During the characterization Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetry (TG), and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) were employed to investigate the structural and morphological changes in modified cellulose from wood.