Crystallinity and Thermal Decomposition of Dialdehyde Celluloses from Bacterial Cellulose

A series of dialdehyde cellulose samples with varied aldehyde content were prepared by oxidation of bacterial cellulose with sodium periodate. The X-ray diffractometry profile showed that the crystallinity degree of bacterial cellulose was 66%, but that of the dialdehyde cellulose (containing 12% aldehyde ) was 56%. Thermal decomposition of these dialdehyde cellulose samples and bacterial cellulose were studied by thermogravimetry. The decomposition of bacterial cellulose in nitrogen started at 230 and rapid weight loss occurred between 300-400. The introduction of dialdehyde group to bacterial cellulose resulted in significant shifts of decomposition to lower temperature range. The decomposition of dialdehyde cellulose (12% aldehyde ) started at 180 and rapid weight loss between 200-350. The temperature of rapidest weight loss shifted from 340 of bacterial cellulose to 290 of the dialdehyde cellulose(12% aldehyde).