On the determination of sub-second water-cellulose sorption kinetics using mass spectrometry.
Published: 2005
Language: eng
Number of pages: 105
Description: The rates of water adsorption/desorption to/from MicroCrystalline Cellulose (MCC) were measured after a switch in Relative Humidity (RH) using Mass Spectrometry (MS). Mass transfer was minimised such that the rates were controlled by molecular kinetics---The fastest rate possible. The amount of water adsorbed/desorbed from MCC agreed with the isotherm, giving a direct test of the data and method. Desorption kinetics from monolayer water coverage (0.026   gH2OgMCC ) to bone dry gas exhibit 1st order behaviour with  kd = 0.026s-1. Adsorption is initially rapid but quickly slows to a rate much slower than desorption from the same conditions. This is attributed to slow molecular rearrangement of the less-ordered cellulose on the MCC microfibrils, that creates more capacity for water uptake.
Notes: Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 44-02, page: 0969.

Thesis (M.A.Sc.)--University of Toronto, 2005.

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