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Macromol
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Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Advances in Cellulose-Based Materials
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Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Advances in Cellulose-Based Materials

A special issue of Macromol (ISSN 2673-6209).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 6150

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. John H.T. Luong

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Innovative Chromatography Group, Irish Separation Science Cluster (ISSC), School of Chemistry, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
Interests: biosensors; immunoassays; functional biomaterials; nanocomposites; nanopolymers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Zhaobin Qiu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Lab of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
Interests: biodegradable polymers; biobased polymers; polymer crystallization; polymer blends; polymer composites; polymer nanocomposites; structure and properties of polymers

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce the Special Issue ‘Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Advances in Cellulose-Based Materials’. From a sustainable viewpoint, biobased and biodegradable cellulose-based materials are of great interest and importance in both academia and industrial fields. So far, both fundamental research and practical applications of cellulose-based materials have recently made great progress. It is necessary to report the recent progress in Macromol as a Special Issue. The topics include, but are not limited to, the preparation, modification, characterization, physical properties, and practical application of cellulose-based materials. We hope that this Special Issue will provide a unique platform for introducing the recent progress in this interesting and important field.

Prof. Dr. John H.T. Luong
Prof. Dr. Zhaobin Qiu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Macromol is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • cellulose
  • biobased
  • biodegradable
  • structure and properties
  • blends
  • composites
  • micro- and nanocrystalline cellulose

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 6307 KiB  
Article
The Clear Choice: Developing Transparent Cork for Next-Generation Sustainable Materials
by Pedro Gil, Pedro L. Almeida, Maria H. Godinho and Ana P. C. Almeida
Macromol 2025, 5(2), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/macromol5020017 - 8 Apr 2025
Viewed by 341
Abstract
Many modern technologies rely on materials that harm the environment. Glass manufacturing, for instance, is both expensive and environmentally damaging. In response, scientists have developed a technique to replace glass with transparent wood, an innovative, versatile, and sustainable alternative. Wood naturally retains heat, [...] Read more.
Many modern technologies rely on materials that harm the environment. Glass manufacturing, for instance, is both expensive and environmentally damaging. In response, scientists have developed a technique to replace glass with transparent wood, an innovative, versatile, and sustainable alternative. Wood naturally retains heat, is durable, and remains cost-effective, making it promising substitute for glass and plastic in window production. This innovation highlights the urgent need for eco-friendly technologies to replace or improve existing materials. This work explores cork as a sustainable alternative for producing transparent materials, potentially replacing transparent wood. Unlike wood, cork can be harvested from the same tree for up to 300 years. The process followed a method like transparent wood production, involving delignification, bleaching, and forced polymer impregnation. The choice of bleaching agent significantly impacted results—samples treated with sodium hypochlorite solution appeared whiter but became extremely fragile, whereas hydrogen peroxide preserved mechanical properties better. The resin-to-hardener ratio was crucial, with higher resin content improving polymer infiltration and transparency. While fully transparent cork was not achieved, the resulting translucent material lays the groundwork for future research in this field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Advances in Cellulose-Based Materials)
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23 pages, 3351 KiB  
Article
Polyvinyl Alcohol Films Reinforced with Nanocellulose from Rice Husk
by Gabriel Monteiro Cholant, Mariane Weirich Bosenbecker, Alexandra Augusta Reichert, Cesar Augusto Gonçalves Beatrice, Thales Castilhos Freitas, Naurienni Dutra Freitas, Nathalia Vieira Villar de Nunes, Alexandre Ferreira Galio, André Luiz Missio and Amanda Dantas de Oliveira
Macromol 2025, 5(1), 6; https://doi.org/10.3390/macromol5010006 - 5 Feb 2025
Viewed by 851
Abstract
Progress in the field of biodegradable materials has been significantly accelerated in recent years, driven by the search for sustainable substitutes for fossil-derived resources. This study investigates the formulation of biodegradable films composed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and nanocellulose extracted from rice husk. [...] Read more.
Progress in the field of biodegradable materials has been significantly accelerated in recent years, driven by the search for sustainable substitutes for fossil-derived resources. This study investigates the formulation of biodegradable films composed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and nanocellulose extracted from rice husk. The rice husk underwent alkaline treatment and bleaching for cellulose extraction, followed by sulfuric acid hydrolysis to obtain nanocellulose. The cellulose and nanocellulose were characterized through Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). Films of pure PVA and those reinforced with 1 wt. % of nanocellulose were prepared using the solvent casting method. The evaluations showed that the modulus of elasticity and tensile strength of the PVA/nanocellulose films were increased by 295.45% and 29.6%, respectively, compared to the pure PVA film. The PVA/nanocellulose film exhibited the lowest solubility and water vapor permeability. Optical Microscopy confirmed a flawless surface for the nanocellulose-reinforced film, while the cellulose- and rice husk-reinforced films displayed irregularities. In the biodegradability assessment, the nanocellulose-reinforced film was the only one that withstood the experimental conditions. The results highlight the effectiveness of nanocellulose in enhancing PVA properties, making these films promising for sustainable packaging applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Advances in Cellulose-Based Materials)
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16 pages, 4805 KiB  
Article
Properties of Multiple-Processed Natural Short Fiber Polypropylene and Polylactic Acid Composites: A Comparison
by Barbara Liedl, Thomas Höftberger and Christoph Burgstaller
Macromol 2024, 4(4), 723-738; https://doi.org/10.3390/macromol4040043 - 5 Oct 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2055
Abstract
Natural fiber composites have gained increasing attention due to sustainability considerations. One often neglected aspect is the potential for the mechanical recycling of such materials. In this work, we compounded injection-molded polypropylene (PP) and polylactic acid (PLA) short cellulose fiber composites with fiber [...] Read more.
Natural fiber composites have gained increasing attention due to sustainability considerations. One often neglected aspect is the potential for the mechanical recycling of such materials. In this work, we compounded injection-molded polypropylene (PP) and polylactic acid (PLA) short cellulose fiber composites with fiber shares up to 40 percent by weight. Both matrix materials were reinforced by the addition of the fibers. We investigated a trifold full recycling process, where we subjected the materials produced in the first place to compounding, injection molding, testing, and shredding, and then repeated the process. Although the materials’ properties assigned to degradation were found to decrease with progressive recycling, attractive mechanical properties could be preserved even after the third reprocessing cycle. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Advances in Cellulose-Based Materials)
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30 pages, 3087 KiB  
Article
Study of Purified Cellulosic Pulp and Lignin Produced by Wheat Straw Biorefinery
by Kalvin Durand, Rodrigue Daassi, Denis Rodrigue and Tatjana Stevanovic
Macromol 2024, 4(3), 650-679; https://doi.org/10.3390/macromol4030039 - 17 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1739
Abstract
With the world population rising, wheat straw production is expected to reach 687–740 million tons per year by 2050. Its frequent application as a fuel source leads to air, water, and soil pollution. Limited literature exists on methods for separating components of residual [...] Read more.
With the world population rising, wheat straw production is expected to reach 687–740 million tons per year by 2050. Its frequent application as a fuel source leads to air, water, and soil pollution. Limited literature exists on methods for separating components of residual wheat straw. Optimal conditions for organosolv pulping of hydrolyzed wheat straw include 3% FeCl3·6H2O as a catalyst, a biomass-to-solvent ratio of 1:15 (m/v), and 50% ethanol:water as cooking liquor at 200 °C for 30 min. Desilication conditions involve extraction with 7.5% Na2CO3 at a biomass-to-solvent ratio of 1:20 (m/v) treated at 115 °C for 60 min. Lignin from hydrolyzed wheat straw showed similar properties to organosolv lignin from untreated straw, with minimal lignin alteration during hydrolysis. Hydrolysis significantly degraded cellulose. A 41% lignin recovery rate with 95% purity was achieved from pre-extracted hydrolyzed straw. Recovered cellulose after silica removal had 2% ash and 87% purity. The innovation of this process lies in the development of a comprehensive, sustainable, efficient, and economically viable biorefinery process that efficiently separates key components of wheat straw, i.e., xylose, lignin, cellulose, and silica, while addressing environmental pollution associated with its traditional use as fuel. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Advances in Cellulose-Based Materials)
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Review

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37 pages, 2896 KiB  
Review
Degradation Mechanisms of Cellulose-Based Transformer Insulation: The Role of Dissolved Gases and Macromolecular Characterisation
by Andrew Adewunmi Adekunle, Samson Okikiola Oparanti, Issouf Fofana, Patrick Picher, Esperanza Mariela Rodriguez-Celis, Oscar Henry Arroyo-Fernandez and Fethi Meghnefi
Macromol 2025, 5(2), 20; https://doi.org/10.3390/macromol5020020 - 1 May 2025
Viewed by 270
Abstract
The ageing of cellulose paper-based transformer insulation is a critical factor influencing the reliability and lifespan of power transformers, as insulating paper is not easily replaced or repaired. Therefore, this review explores the degradation mechanisms of insulating paper, emphasising the roles of dissolved [...] Read more.
The ageing of cellulose paper-based transformer insulation is a critical factor influencing the reliability and lifespan of power transformers, as insulating paper is not easily replaced or repaired. Therefore, this review explores the degradation mechanisms of insulating paper, emphasising the roles of dissolved gases, chemical markers, and macromolecular characterisation in assessing paper deterioration. Likewise, the impact of moisture and thermal stress on the breakdown of cellulose fibres are discussed, especially acid hydrolysis, which serves as the main degradation mechanism in cellulose insulating paper. Advanced diagnostic techniques for insulation condition monitoring, such as molecular simulations, glass transition temperature analysis, and DP estimation models, are highlighted. Furthermore, special attention is given to natural esters as alternative insulating liquids, demonstrating their ability to slow cellulose ageing through moisture absorption, hydrogen bonding stabilisation, and transesterification reactions. This paper also evaluates key chemical markers, including 2FAL and methanol, for estimating paper degradation. A comprehensive understanding of these mechanisms and diagnostic approaches can enhance predictive maintenance strategies and improve transformer longevity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Advances in Cellulose-Based Materials)
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