Short-term steam treatment of MFC gel with and without water-soluble cellulose derivative

Microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) with and without added CMC was exposed to short-term dynamic thermal treatment using a steam jet cooker. The effects of the elevated temperature (130 degrees C, similar to 3 bar) and shear forces on the rheology, crystallinity index, UV/VIS adsorption and water retention were measured. Jet cooking increased the viscosity and gel strength of the MFC and MFC/CMC mixture but with CMC alone a slight decrease in viscosity was observed. The water retention capacity and crystalline indices of the MFC were not greatly affected by the short-term thermal treatment and shear forces, although a slight increase in the UV/VIS absorbance was observed.