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Nanocellulose and Cellulose-Based Nanocomposites: Synthesis, Characterization and Applications
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Nanocellulose and Cellulose-Based Nanocomposites: Synthesis, Characterization and Applications

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Advanced Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 June 2022) | Viewed by 12455

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Sławomir Borysiak

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Chemical Technology and Engineering, Poznan University of Technology, Berdychowo 4, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
Interests: polymer composites and nanocomposites; renewable and biodegradable materials; lignocellulosic materials; nanocellulose; nanotechnology; hybrid and functional materials; supermolecular structure; thermal analysis; processing and recycling of polymeric materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Izabela Ratajczak

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 75, 60-625 Poznan, Poland
Interests: wood cellulose; lignocellulosic biomass; composites; biodegradability; polymer matrices; nanocellulose; ionic liquids; natural wood preservatives; FTIR spectroscopy; atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS)

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanocellulose combine, in a very exciting manner, important properties of cellulose with the amazing features of nanoscale materials and offers a completely new group of materials. Nanocellulose, both fibers and crystals, have been shown to have promising and interesting properties which, combined with their enormous surface area, low density, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and renewability, make them interesting starting materials for many different uses. These open a wide range of possible properties, as well as smart applications, in many fields from chemistry, medicine, biotechnology, and materials engineering.

However, there are still some issues to overcome, and the main challenges in the field are related to efficient preparation and isolation of nanosize cellulosic materials from their natural sources. Additionally, high application potential nanocellulose has resulted in increased academic and industrial interests toward the development of nanocellulose-based materials and cellulose nanocomposites.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to collect high-quality articles in the fields of synthesis, characterization, and applications of nanocellulose. Potential nanocellulose materials topics include but are not limited to the synthesis, functionalization, and characterization of nanocellulose materials, preparation and characterization of hybrid cellulose materials, and preparation and characterization of multifunctional and advanced nanocellulose-based composites.

It is our pleasure to invite you to submit a manuscript to this Special Issue. Full papers, communications, and reviews are all welcome.

Dr. Sławomir Borysiak
Dr. Izabela Ratajczak
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. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2600 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 nanocrystals and nanofibers
  • wood cellulose
  • lignocellulosic materials
  • hybrid cellulose materials
  • cellulose functionalization
  • cellulose modification
  • enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose
  • polymer composites
  • nanomaterials and nanocomposites
  • synthesis, properties, and applications

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 3599 KiB  
Article
Bioactive Propolis-Silane System as Antifungal Agent in Lignocellulosic-Polymer Composites
by Majka Odalanowska, Grzegorz Cofta, Magdalena Woźniak, Izabela Ratajczak, Tomasz Rydzkowski and Sławomir Borysiak
Materials 2022, 15(10), 3435; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15103435 - 10 May 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1417
Abstract
Polymer composites with renewable lignocellulosic fillers, despite their many advantages, are susceptible to biodegradation, which is a major limitation in terms of external applications. The work uses an innovative hybrid propolis-silane modifier in order to simultaneously increase the resistance to fungal attack, as [...] Read more.
Polymer composites with renewable lignocellulosic fillers, despite their many advantages, are susceptible to biodegradation, which is a major limitation in terms of external applications. The work uses an innovative hybrid propolis-silane modifier in order to simultaneously increase the resistance to fungal attack, as well as to ensure good interfacial adhesion of the filler–polymer matrix. Polypropylene composites with 30% pine wood content were obtained by extrusion and pressing. The samples were exposed to the fungi: white-rot fungus Coriolus versicolor, brown-rot fungus Coniophora puteana, and soft-rot fungus Chaetomium globosum for 8 weeks. Additionally, biological tests of samples that had been previously exposed to UV radiation were carried out, which allowed the determination of the influence of both factors on the surface destruction of composite materials. The X-ray diffraction, attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and mycological studies showed a significant effect of the modification of the lignocellulose filler with propolis on increasing the resistance to fungi. Such composites were characterized by no changes in the supermolecular structure and slight changes in the intensity of the bands characteristic of polysaccharides and lignin. In the case of systems containing pine wood that had not been modified with propolis, significant changes in the crystalline structure of polymer composites were noted, indicating the progress of decay processes. Moreover, the modification of the propolis-silane hybrid system wood resulted in the inhibition of photo- and biodegradation of WPC materials, as evidenced only by a slight deterioration in selected strength parameters. The applied innovative modifying system can therefore act as both an effective and ecological UV stabilizer, as well as an antifungal agent. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanocellulose and Cellulose-Based Nanocomposites: Synthesis, Characterization and Applications)
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16 pages, 5920 KiB  
Article
Synthesis and Physicochemical Properties of Poly(vinyl) Alcohol Nanocomposites Reinforced with Nanocrystalline Cellulose from Tea (Camellia sinensis) Waste
by Fauzi Handoko and Yusril Yusuf
Materials 2021, 14(23), 7154; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14237154 - 24 Nov 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1643
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to utilize cellulose from tea waste as nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC), which is used as a filler in poly(vinyl) alcohol (PVA) nanocomposites. To obtain the NCC, a chemical process was conducted in the form of alkali treatment, followed [...] Read more.
The purpose of this study was to utilize cellulose from tea waste as nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC), which is used as a filler in poly(vinyl) alcohol (PVA) nanocomposites. To obtain the NCC, a chemical process was conducted in the form of alkali treatment, followed by bleaching and hydrolysis. Nanocomposites were formed by mixing PVA with various NCC suspensions. With chemical treatment, lignin and hemicellulose can be removed from the tea waste to obtain NCC. This can be seen in the functional groups of cellulose and the increase in crystallinity. The NCC had a mean diameter of 6.99 ± 0.50 nm. Furthermore, the addition of NCC to the PVA nanocomposite influenced the properties of the nanocomposites. This can be seen in the general increase in opacity value, thermal and mechanical properties, and crystallinity, as well as the decrease in the value of the swelling ratio after adding NCC. This study has revealed that NCC from tea waste can be used to improve the physicochemical properties of PVA film. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanocellulose and Cellulose-Based Nanocomposites: Synthesis, Characterization and Applications)
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18 pages, 3712 KiB  
Article
Highly Insulative PEG-Grafted Cellulose Polyurethane Foams—From Synthesis to Application Properties
by Aleksandra Grząbka-Zasadzińska, Przemysław Bartczak and Sławomir Borysiak
Materials 2021, 14(21), 6363; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14216363 - 24 Oct 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2134
Abstract
In this paper, native cellulose I was subjected to alkaline treatment. As a result, cellulose I was transformed to cellulose II and some nanometric particles were formed. Both polymorphic forms of cellulose were modified with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and then used as fillers [...] Read more.
In this paper, native cellulose I was subjected to alkaline treatment. As a result, cellulose I was transformed to cellulose II and some nanometric particles were formed. Both polymorphic forms of cellulose were modified with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and then used as fillers for polyurethane. Composites were prepared in a one-step process. Cellulosic fillers were characterized in terms of their chemical (Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy) and supermolecular structure (X-ray diffraction), as well as their particle size. Investigation of composite polyurethane included measurements of density, characteristic processing times of foam formation, compression strength, dimensional stability, water absorption, and thermal conductivity. Much focus was put on the application aspect of the produced insulation polyurethane foams. It was shown that modification of cellulosic filler with poly(ethylene glycol) has a positive influence on formation of polyurethane composites—if modified filler was used, the values of compression strength and density increased, while water sorption and thermal conductivity decreased. Moreover, it was proven that the introduction of cellulosic fillers into the polyurethane matrix does not deteriorate the strength or thermal properties of the foams, and that composites with such fillers have good application potential. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanocellulose and Cellulose-Based Nanocomposites: Synthesis, Characterization and Applications)
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14 pages, 2837 KiB  
Article
Nanocellulose Production Using Ionic Liquids with Enzymatic Pretreatment
by Marta Babicka, Magdalena Woźniak, Kinga Szentner, Monika Bartkowiak, Barbara Peplińska, Krzysztof Dwiecki, Sławomir Borysiak and Izabela Ratajczak
Materials 2021, 14(12), 3264; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14123264 - 12 Jun 2021
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 2710
Abstract
Nanocellulose has gained increasing attention during the past decade, which is related to its unique properties and wide application. In this paper, nanocellulose samples were produced via hydrolysis with ionic liquids (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazole acetate (EmimOAc) and 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (AmimCl)) from microcrystalline celluloses (Avicel and [...] Read more.
Nanocellulose has gained increasing attention during the past decade, which is related to its unique properties and wide application. In this paper, nanocellulose samples were produced via hydrolysis with ionic liquids (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazole acetate (EmimOAc) and 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (AmimCl)) from microcrystalline celluloses (Avicel and Whatman) subjected to enzymatic pretreatment. The obtained material was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TG). The results showed that the nanocellulose had a regular and spherical structure with diameters of 30–40 nm and exhibited lower crystallinity and thermal stability than the material obtained after hydrolysis with Trichoderma reesei enzymes. However, the enzyme-pretreated Avicel had a particle size of about 200 nm and a cellulose II structure. A two-step process involving enzyme pretreatment and hydrolysis with ionic liquids resulted in the production of nanocellulose. Moreover, the particle size of nanocellulose and its structure depend on the ionic liquid used. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanocellulose and Cellulose-Based Nanocomposites: Synthesis, Characterization and Applications)
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26 pages, 5503 KiB  
Article
Production of Nanocellulose by Enzymatic Treatment for Application in Polymer Composites
by Daria Zielińska, Kinga Szentner, Agnieszka Waśkiewicz and Sławomir Borysiak
Materials 2021, 14(9), 2124; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14092124 - 22 Apr 2021
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 3648
Abstract
In the last few years, the scientific community around the world has devoted a lot of attention to the search for the best methods of obtaining nanocellulose. In this work, nanocellulose was obtained in enzymatic reactions with strictly defined dispersion and structural parameters [...] Read more.
In the last few years, the scientific community around the world has devoted a lot of attention to the search for the best methods of obtaining nanocellulose. In this work, nanocellulose was obtained in enzymatic reactions with strictly defined dispersion and structural parameters in order to use it as a filler for polymers. The controlled enzymatic hydrolysis of the polysaccharide was carried out in the presence of cellulolytic enzymes from microscopic fungi—Trichoderma reesei and Aspergillus sp. It has been shown that the efficiency of bioconversion of cellulose material depends on the type of enzymes used. The use of a complex of cellulases obtained from a fungus of the genus Trichoderma turned out to be an effective method of obtaining cellulose of nanometric dimensions with a very low polydispersity. The effect of cellulose enzymatic reactions was assessed using the technique of high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a refractometric detector, X-ray diffraction, dynamic light scattering and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. In the second stage, polypropylene composites with nanometric cellulose were obtained by extrusion and injection. It was found by means of X-ray diffraction, hot stage optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry that nanocellulose had a significant effect on the supermolecular structure, nucleation activity and the course of phase transitions of the obtained polymer nanocomposites. Moreover, the obtained nanocomposites are characterized by very good strength properties. This paper describes for the first time that the obtained cellulose nanofillers with defined parameters can be used for the production of polymer composites with a strictly defined polymorphic structure, which in turn may influence future decision making about obtaining materials with controllable properties, e.g., high flexibility, enabling the thermoforming process of packaging. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanocellulose and Cellulose-Based Nanocomposites: Synthesis, Characterization and Applications)
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