Effect of The Enzyme Charge On The Production And Morphological Characteristics of Cellulose Nanofibrils

Abstract The effect of cellulase enzymes on the degree of polymerization of cellulose and the mechanical fibrillation process has been widely reported. However, the available information does not allow to establish specific relationships between the applied enzymatic-mechanical treatment, the degree of polymerization, and the characteristics of the cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) produced. This work aims to establish specific relationships between the intensity of enzymatic treatment, the degree of polymerization of the cellulose, the morphology of CNFs, and the tensile strength of the films. It was determined that the decrease in the degree of polymerization plays an important role in the fibrillation processes of the cell wall to produce CNFs and that there is a linear relationship between the degree of polymerization and the length of CNFs, which is independent of the type of enzyme, enzyme charge, and intensity of the applied mechanical treatment. In addition, it was determined that the percentage of decrease in the degree of polymerization of CNFs due to mechanical treatment is irrespective of the applied enzyme charge. Else ways, it was shown that the aspect ratio is a good indicator of the efficiency of the fibrillation process, and the degree of polymerization in not. Finally, it was shown that the resistance of CNF films is positively related to the degree of polymerization up to a maximum value which corresponds to the maximum of the aspect ratio.