DOI: https://doi.org/10.55373/mjchem.v26i5.542

Keywords: Infrared spectroscopy; microcrystalline cellulose; Eurycoma longifolia; Manihot esculenta

Abstract

In this study, the distinction of three microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) samples that have been extracted from agricultural wastes was investigated. Although all of the MCC samples possess similar molecular structures, it is hard to distinguish them in terms of their physical properties. There are problems because of interfering absorption, which makes the different IR bands overlap and makes it impossible to figure out the important properties of the MCC samples. The crystallinity index (CrI) is linked to the type of hydrogen bonding in the MCC structures, and surface morphology shows that all MCC fibres have a rough, rod-like structure on their surface. The fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy associated with two-dimensional correlation infrared (2D-IR) spectroscopy and second derivative infrared spectroscopy was applied to investigate the distinction between the extracted MCC. The results showed that the second derivative IR spectroscopy can enhance the spectral resolutions in the 3400 to 2900 cm-1 range, which provides much information regarding the strength of MCC. Whereas the 2D-IR spectra demonstrated subtle distinctions in band intensities in the region of 1500 to 850 cm-1, enabling the determination of the degree of intra and inter-molecular chain length between the MCC samples. These findings will contribute to the development of rapid quality control of MCC.