The aim of this study was to investigate and analytically evaluate morphology and structural properties of dried micro-(MFC) and nanofibrillated (NFC) cellulose, obtained after air and freeze drying of aqueous MFC and NFC suspensions. Morphological and structural properties of the dried micro- and nanofibrillated cellulose were examined by scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). FE-SEM revealed dense textured translucent film of randomly arranged fibrils in air dried samples, while freeze drying of MFC and NFC suspension resulted in formation of irregularly shaped agglomerates with dimensions up to 80 μm. The drying process of MFC and NFC, however, did not lead to a change in chemical structure since the FTIR spectra were identical.
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