Chemical modification of wood using Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide (CTAB)

An improvement of wood using Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide (CTAB) or centrimonium bromide have been carried out. The purpose of this study was to modify cellulose, rice husk and sawdust and rubber wood with cetyltrimethylamonium bromide (CTAB). Chemical, structural and thermal properties of cellulose, rice husk, sawdust and rubber wood was characterized after CTAB chemical treatment. Furthermore, the four major samples were divided into two group, which four samples were pretreated with 5% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and the other four sample left untreated. Then, all the samples have been chemically modified with 5% CTAB solution. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Thermogravimeter analysis (TGA) have been used to characterize the samples in terms of chemical, structural and thermal properties. The results indicate that NaOH pretreatment removes lignin and demonstrates reduction of hydroxyl group presence. CTAB was used to reduce hydrophilic and introduce hydrophobic properties to the samples. Furthermore, the physical and mechanical properties of the four samples were improved compared before treatment with CTAB. As a result, NaOH pretreatment followed by CTAB treatment give a good result in term of structural properties and thermal stability to the wood.