Aspects of cellulose ultrastructure from solid state NMR experiments

CELL 182

Laurent Heux, Laurent.Heux@cermav.cnrs.fr, CNRS, Centre de Recherches sur les Macromolécules Végétales (CERMAV), BP 53, F-38041 Grenoble cedex 9, France
Since pioneering work at beginning of the eighties, 13C CP-MAS NMR has proven to be a powerful tool for the investigation of both the polymorphism and the conformational features of cellulose. In this communication, I will report on INADEQUATE experiments, which show how the NMR sensitivity can complement X-ray structure determination to obtain further information on the organization of the hydrogen bonding network within the cellulose crystals. New insights will also be brought by the careful spectral study of crystalline soda-cellulose complexes, where the cellulose backbone as well as the hydroxymethyl side groups are able to explore extended areas of the conformational space. Finally, spin diffusion experiments will bring useful information on the size and morphology of the cellulose microfibrils.