Abstract: The morphology of microcrystalline cellulose(MCC) or nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) from eucalyptus pulp and dewaxed cotton NCC were characterized by means of an environmental scanning electronic microscope (ESEM) and transmission electronic microscope (TEM), respectively. The surface morphology of nano-microcrystalline cellulose (N-MCC) from eucalyptus pulp is different from that of NCC from dewaxed cotton. The surface morphology of eucalyptus pulp N-MCC is rod-like with less than 20 μm of length, but the diameter of the N-MCC could reach up to 377 nm. The surface morphology of dewaxed cotton NCC is spherical-like with less than 500 nm in length. For the surface morphology of the dewaxed cotton NCC , there is a little difference after ultrasonic crushing between direct and freeze-dried observation with ESEM. The lengths of celluloses from eucalyptus pulp and dewaxed cotton could be reached up to nanometer grade.

Key words: dewaxed cotton, nanocrystalline cellulose, eucalyptus pulp, morphology