Structure of Cellulose Isolated from Rapeseed Stalks

Abstract

Solid state Cross-Polarization/Magic-Angle-Spinning 13C CP/MAS Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectra were obtained for cellulose and α-cellulose isolated from rapeseed stalks. This study provides the first characterization of the rapeseed stalk cellulose, revealing that native cellulose occurs as cellulose I allomorph, while α-cellulose exhibits distinct crystalline structures similar to those found in cellulose II. Additionally, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Energy-Dispersive X-ray Microanalysis (EDX) were employed to further investigate and unveil the structural properties of cellulose extracted from rapeseed stalks. These complementary techniques offered a more comprehensive understanding of the cellulose morphology, crystallinity, and chemical composition, providing valuable insights into the potential utilization of rapeseed stalks as a renewable biomass resource for various industrial applications.