Sunday, May 4, 2008
4-25

Cellulosic Films obtained from the Treatment of Sugarcane Bagasse Fibers with N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO)

Denise S. Ruzene1, Daniel P. Silva1, António A. Vicente1, José A. Teixeira2, Maria T. Pessoa de Amorim3, and Adilson R. Gonçalves4. (1) IBB - Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centre of Biological Engineering, Universidade do Minho, Braga, 4710-057, Portugal, (2) IBB - Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centre of Biological Engineering, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, 4710-057, Portugal, (3) Department of Textile Engineering, Centre of Science and Textile Technology, Universidade do Minho, Guimarães, 4800-058, Portugal, (4) Biotechnology Department, Engineering School of Lorena- EEL-USP, Rodovia Itajubá - Lorena - Km 74,5 - Bairro Campinho, Lorena-SP, Brazil

Due to technological evolution and improved environmental awareness, it has always been necessary to keep abreast of new developments, trends and legislation. In recent years the N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO) technology turned out to be a simple physical alternative to the yet dominant viscose-technology for producing regenerated cellulosic fibers, film, food casings, membranes, sponges and others, without hazardous byproducts. The NMMO is a solvent for cellulose that does not form a cellulose derivative. In the last few years it has gained increasing importance for the production of a new class of man-made cellulose fibers, the so-called lyocell fibers. The properties of lyocell include high tenacity as well as high fibrillation tendency. These properties are due to a high degree of crystallinity and a high orientation of the cellulose chains in the non-crystalline regions of the fibers. Sugarcane bagasse pulps were obtained by ethanol/water organosolv process under acid conditions (0.02mol/L sulfuric acid at 160ºC for 1 h) and the obtained pulp was bleached using sodium chlorite. The main physicochemical characteristics in the pulp presented viscosity of 3.6 mPa.s and micro kappa of 1.1. The films were obtained with 0.5g of bleaching pulp, 2.5g H2O and 13.7g NMMO at 74ºC for 1.5 h and 2.5 h. A good film formation was observed, which after FTIR, TGA/DSC analysis indicated no difference among the reaction times. The study showed to be an interesting and promising process, combining the prerequisites for a more efficient utilization of agro-industrial residues. Acknowledgements: FAPESP, CNPq and CAPES (Brazil) and FCT (Portugal)

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