Dynamics of cellulose nanocrystals in the presence of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide

A dynamic light scattering (DLS) study was performed to investigate the interactions of maize straw cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) with the cationic surfactant hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). Phase analysis light scattering (which gives access to zeta potential (zeta) and electrical conductance) technique was used with the aim to obtain additional information. Zeta potential behavior demonstrated the colloidal systems are stable. By electrical conductance data, it was verified that the process of formation of micelles is thermodynamically spontaneous. Dynamic light scattering was shown to be very useful to find the optimum hydrolysis time so as to obtain well dispersed and more isolated nanocrystals. In the presence of the cationic surfactant CTAB, the formation of micelles and aggregates CNC/CTAB were well identified by DLS showing that the dynamics of cellulose nanocrystals in aqueous suspensions is strongly affected by the surfactant.