Relationship between the Physical Properties and Surface Area of Cellulose Derived from Adsorbates of Various Molecular Sizes.

An aqueous suspension of bacterial cellulose (BC) has such physical properties as higher viscosity, emulsion-stabilizing effect and filler retention than cellulose of other origins. The specific surface areas of BC, microfibrillated cellulose and wood pulp were evaluated by determining the maximum amounts of adsorption of Congo red, cellobiose dehydrogenase (CDH) and xyloglucan. There was a positive linear correlation between the above-mentioned physical properties of each cellulose sample and the specific surface area derived from the maximum amount of CDH adsorbed. The highest physical property values for BC result from the largest external surface area of the fibrils of BC to which CDH was adsorbed.

Relationship between Suspension Properties and Fibril Structure of Disintegrated Bacterial Cellulose.

A new method evaluating the fibril width and length of disintegrated bacterial cellulose was developed using optical and rheological analysis. During the early stages of the disintegration process, the bacterial cellulose particles formed loose fibrous aggregates, followed by cutting of the disintegrated fibrils that produced short fibrils. On the other hand, the fibril width decreased steadily throughout disintegration. The relationships between fibril structure and suspension properties were analyzed by a multiple regression method. The thinner and longer the disintegrated bacterial cellulose fibrils were, the higher the viscosity and water-holding capacity became.