The effect of residual xylan on cellulose nanofiber production through electrospinning of wheat straw

In this research, wheat straw as one of the important and available agricultural residues was used for preparation of cellulose nanofibers through electrospinning process. Wheat straw was pulped and bleached to produce cellulose fibers through soda-AQ and DED bleaching sequences. Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and dichloromethane (DCM) were employed to dissolve the cellulose fibers of dissolving pulp (purified with NaOH alkaline extraction) and xylan-rich pulps for preparation of electrospun cellulose nanofibers. SEM images proved that long and homogenous cellulose nanofiber with diameter less than 100 nm can easily be obtained from wheat straw cellulose fibers. Interestingly, average diameter and beaded electrospun nanofibers prepared from xylan-rich cellulose fibers are lower than those lacking xylan. The results of this research corroborated the pivotal role of xylan into the electrospinning process of wheat straw cellulose fibers.