Effect of particle size on functionality of cellulose
Date Issued
2009
Date
2009
Author(s)
Toh, Yon-Rui
Abstract
Cellulose is the most abundant carbohydrate and is a renewable source. Due to its high molecular weight, high crystallinity, and insolubility in water, cellulose is one of the least degradable natural polymers. Cellulose has been found to exhibit health benefits, such as to increase fecal bulk, soften feces, and to reduce intestinal transit time. The objective of this study is the utilization of media milling to improve physicochemical properties (intrinsic bulk density, intrinsic viscosity, water holding capacity, swelling capacity) and physiological properties of cellulose. The results show that media milling significantly reduced the average particle size of cellulose from 25 μm to 0.9 μm while the bulk density of cellulose decreased from 1.41 to 1.32 g/mL. Moreover, the specific surface area of media milled cellulose (MC) increased 36.78 fold as the particle size decreased to 0.9 μm. In addition, the size reduction of MC significantly increased the water holding capacity (24.99 g/g) from 3.44 g/g of raw cellulose. The physiological properties of cellulose on bile acid binding, carbohydrates (glucose, fructose, and sucrose) binding and oil binding capacity were also improved. Furthermore, the size reduction resulted in an increase in fermentability of cellulose. The percentage production increased of short chain fatty acids (acetate (379.38-2880.60%), propionate (54.21-2738.52%), and butyrate (60.71-2865.89%) after fermented 24 h from 3 fecal samples were in the order of C < MC-30 < MC-60 < MC-90. With these improvements, the MC is believed to have potential to lower blood cholesterol, blood sugar, to prevent colon cancer and to maintain colon health.
Subjects
cellulose
binding capacity
fermentability
media milling
Type
thesis
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