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Updated: Aug 17, 2026
Combining Raman Imaging and Multivariate Analysis to Visualize Lignin, Cellulose, and Hemicellulose in the Plant Cell Wall
Published on: June 10, 2017
Interaction of water with different cellulose ethers: a Raman spectroscopy and environmental scanning electron
P M Fechner1, S Wartewig, A Kiesow
1Institute of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, W.-Langenbeck-Strasse 4, 06120 Halle, Germany. fechner@pharmazie.uni-halle.de
Abstract:
Different non-ionic cellulose ethers like methyl cellulose (MC), hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) and hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) were investigated. The characterization of the cellulose ethers was carried out by thermogravimetry and sorption/desorption isotherms. Differences in the properties of the cellulose ether films were described by time-dependent contact angle measurements. Changes in molecular structure of the raw materials, gels and films caused by water contact were studied using Raman spectroscopy. Differences between the substitution types and changes due to the gel or film formation were observed. An environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) technique was used to distinguish the morphological behaviour of the cellulose ether films in contact with water. Based on in-situ ESEM experiments, the swelling and drying behaviour of the various stages of cellulose ether films (film-hydrated film-dried film) were quantified by using image analysis.
