마이크로 그라인더로 제조된 홍조류 펄프 기반 셀룰로오스 나노섬유의 물성 평가

Abstract

This study investigated the feasibility of using red algae bleached pulp (RaBP) as a raw material for manufacturing cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) via mechanical treatment. Hardwood bleached kraft pulp (HwBKP) and softwood bleached kraft pulp were used as controls. The physical properties of each pulp were assessed through morphological analysis, fiber length and width measurements, initial freeness, and degree of polymerization (DP). Among the pulps characterized, RaBP exhibited the shortest fiber length and smallest width, along with a high initial freeness of 93 mL Canadian Standard Freeness (CSF), eliminating the need for beating or refining before CNF production. CNFs were prepared from RaBP and HwBKP using a microgrinder, and the characteristics of the resulting CNFs—referred to as RaCNFs and HwCNFs, respectively— were compared. As the number of grinding passes increased from 1 to 5, the particlesize and fiber width of RaCNFs and HwCNFs decreased, while their low-shear viscosity increased. RaCNFs exhibited smaller fiber dimensions but lower low-shear viscosity than HwCNFs, a difference attributed to the lower DP of RaBP. RaCNFs and HwCNFs exhibited negative zeta potentials, indicating stable dispersion. Overall, RaBP is a promising and efficient raw material for CNF production.