IONIC LIQUID-MEDIATED SYNTHESIS OF CELLULOSE/MONTMORILLONITE NANOCOMPOSITE

Abstract

Cellulose regeneration is a facile approach to produce biopolymer/clay composites with improved physical properties. In this study, a cellulose/montmorillonite nanocomposite was prepared using a novel ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-ethylimidazolium bromide ([BEIm]Br). Montmorillonite clay was modified using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, which revealed the substitution of cetyltrimethylammonium (CTA+) cations in the clay gallery. The exfoliation-adsorption method was used to prepare the cellulose/montmorillonite nanocomposites, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses confirmed the successful dispersion of cellulose into the clay matrix. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) further revealed the optimum thermal stability of the nanocomposite was achieved with 4 wt% montmorillonite, which provided a white cellulose/montmorillonite nanocomposite.