Fabrication of regenerated cellulose membranes with high tensile strength and antibacterial property via surface amination

The hemicellulose content of cellulosic material from poplar chemi-thermomechanical pulp (CTMP) was controlled by a microwave-assisted formic acid (MFA) extraction process. The environmentally friendly, self-bonded, and cellulose-rich fiber sheets (around 0.3 mm thick and 280 g/m(2) grammage) were fabricated via a molding and compression process. The results showed that the MFA treatment effectively controlled the hemicellulose content in the range from 6.8% to 20.4%. Mechanical testing results showed a good linear relationship between the tensile strength and the hemicellulose content, where a higher hemicellulose content obtained a stronger tensile strength. Meanwhile, as hemicellulose content decreased, the onset temperature, representing the thermal stability, increased from 318.1 degrees C to 335.7 degrees C and the elastic modulus, representing the mechanical stiffness, increased from 0.047 MPa to 0.068 MPa.