Effect of Chemical Treatment on Crystalline Cellulose: Changes in Crystallinity and Functional Groups of Cellulose

Cellulosic material derived from Merbau (Intsia bijuga) was extracted at atmospheric pressure. In the initial stage the sample was delignified using peroxyacetic acid to remove the amorphous. In the second stage the samples were double bleached using hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and sodium Hydroxide (NaOH). From the X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) data it is evident that both acid and alkali bleached celluloses have rich cellulose I structure. The results are supported by FTIR study in which all samples shown typical spectra of cellulose.