Water retention value measurements of cellulosic materials using a centrifuge technique

A centrifugal method has been modified and applied to the assessment of water retention value (WRV) in cellulosic materials. Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), small particles/fibrils isolated from MCC using high-pressure homogenizer, and pulp fibers saturated in water were centrifuged at different speeds and times with filter paper and/or a membrane acting as the filter in the WRV measurement setup. As centrifugal speed, time, and filter pore-size increased, lower WRVs were obtained. Smaller MCC particles/fibrils retained more water than the as-received MCC and pulp fibers. The results are useful for WRV measurements of cellulosic materials, especially for microfibrillated cellulose and small cellulosic fibrils.