Physico-chemical Characteristics of Fine Nano-scaled Carbon Fibers from Bacterial Cellulose

Jiji Swaminathan; K. Kadirvelu; Deepika Rajendran

doi:10.14429/dlsj.2.12280

Jiji Swaminathan PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore - 641 014, India
K. Kadirvelu DRDO- BU Centre for Life Sciences , Bharathiyar University, Coimbatore - 641 046, India
Deepika Rajendran PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore - 641 014, India

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/dlsj.2.12280

Abstract

Recently, carbon nanofibers have gained immense attention in research due to its tremendous application. Here, this work highlights a simple, cost effective and reliable method to develop carbon nanofibers (CNF) from biomass. The biomass used is bacterial cellulose (BC) synthesized using Acetobacter xylinus. CNF was developed by freeze drying of BC followed by pyrolysis at different temperatures (300ºC - 900ºC). The conversions of BC to CNF were characterized using SEM, FTIR, TGA and XRD respectively. The results exhibit three dimensional, lightweight, fine nanoscale fibers with a diameter of 10nm which are tend to have hydrophobic and lipophilic characters, due to which it can be used in oil – water separation applications.

Author Biographies

Jiji Swaminathan, PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore - 641 014, India

Ms Jiji Swaminathan, completed M.Sc (Environmental Science)
from PSG College of Arts and Science and currently working as
Junior Research Fellow, Department of Environmental Science
at DRDO – BU CLS, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil
Nadu. Her research mainly focuses on developing products from
renewable natural resources like cellulose, chitin and its derivatives.
Primary research interest considers about developing biomaterial for
protective and biomedical applications like wound dressing, masks
with antimicrobial finishes and transdermal drug delivery system
from above mentioned biopolymers with concern of cost effectiveness
and environment safety.

K. Kadirvelu, DRDO- BU Centre for Life Sciences , Bharathiyar University, Coimbatore - 641 046, India

Dr K. Kadirvelu has received his PhD from Bharathiar University, in
1998 and he has completed Post doctoral research at France, in 2000.
Currently he is working as Scientist ‘F’ at DRDO-BU Center for Life
Sciences . His current area of research interests includes Heavy metal
removal, environmental remediation, nanomaterials, activated carbon,
activated carbon nanofiber, polmer based nanofibers, quantum dots,
bacterial cellulose, chemical sensing and biosensing.

Deepika Rajendran, PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore - 641 014, India

Ms Deepika Rajendran has completed MSc in Environmental
Science and working as laboratory technician in PSG College of
Arts and Science, Coimbatore, Tamil nadu. Her research interests
are Environmental Science, solid waste management and pollution
control related research areas.