THE COMPARISON OF METHODS FOR THE PREPARATION OF FIBRILLATED CELLULOSE FROMDISTILLERY CORN REFUSE USING STEAM EXPLOSION
This study proposes a novel approach involving steam explosion for the production of fibrillated cellulose using distillery refuse as a by-product of bioethanol production. The effect of the steam explosion with or without additional pre-treatment or post-treatment of distillery refuse on lignin and hemicellulose degradation was studied by infrared spectroscopy and fibre length distribution. Partial decomposition of hemicellulose was observed after the use of steam explosion combined with acid-alkali pre-treatment. The process was less effective by using steam explosion, followed by oxidation and bleaching, however, it showed better results in comparison with steam explosion followed by single oxidation. Steam explosion combined with acid-alkali pre-treatment or with oxidation combined with bleaching effectively decomposed lignin. Average arithmetic fibre length after treatment by single steam explosion rapidly decreased but additional treatments no longer caused its further decline. The application of fibrillated cellulose obtained by a single steam explosion on the filter decreased the average pore size. Anchoring of metal salts combined with fibrillated fibres on paper surface was confirmed by SEM-EDS and its ability to act as a barrier against microorganisms was proved.