Method for producing cellulose fine fiber

Abstract

A method of producing cellulose fine fibers that are nanosized, that have a high crystallinity degree, and that are less vulnerable to fiber shape damage, the method including impregnating cellulose with a fibrillation solution containing formic acid to fibrillate the cellulose without vigorous mechanical crushing. The method of producing cellulose fine fibers including impregnating the cellulose with formic acid, a high-concentration formic acid aqueous solution, or a solution containing, in an aprotic solvent having a donor number of 26 or more, formic acid or a high-concentration formic acid aqueous solution serving as a fibrillation solution to fibrillate the cellulose. In addition, a method of producing surface-modified cellulose fine fibers including impregnating the cellulose with the fibrillation solution to modify the surfaces of cellulose fine fibers while fibrillating the cellulose.

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