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Polymers
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Advanced Preparation and Application of Cellulose: 2nd Edition
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Advanced Preparation and Application of Cellulose: 2nd Edition

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Circular and Green Sustainable Polymer Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 6132

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Marta Fernandes

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T), Campus de Azurém, Universidade do Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Interests: textile functionalization; bacterial nanocellulose; composites; nanomaterials; natural dyes; plasma functionalization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Jorge Padrão

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T), University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Interests: textile materials; biotechnology; biomaterials; antimicrobials; bioreactor optimization; nanotechnology; environmental biotechnology; industrial biotechnology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Today’s world is witnessing growing concern for the environment as a result of global warming, energy crises, and waste generation. The growing demand for products with a low environmental impact has led the scientific community to focus to a greater extent on sustainable and renewable materials. In this context and due to its abundant availability from various sources, cellulose has emerged as one of the most prominent candidates for sustainable use across applications in different fields,. In particular, nanocellulose presents outstanding characteristics, such as renewability, a high aspect ratio, good mechanical properties, excellent biocompatibility, hydrogen bonding capacity, reinforcing potential, and degradability.

The scope of this Special Issue is to report recent achievements in the advanced preparation and emerging applications of cellulose-based materials. In particular, topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Healthcare;
  • Water purification;
  • Energy storage;
  • Filtration;
  • The environment;
  • Automotive;
  • Aerospace;
  • Defense;
  • Sensors;
  • Adhesives;
  • Packaging;
  • Food;
  • Construction.

Dr. Marta Fernandes
Dr. Jorge Padrão
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. Polymers 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 2700 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
  • nanocellulose
  • energy storage
  • water purification
  • packaging
  • food
  • filtration

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 4628 KiB  
Article
Achieving 3-D Structural Uniformity in Cellulose Gel Beads via Salt Screening
by Matthew T. Garnett, Seyed Armin Seyed Esfahani, Andrew P. Yingst, Luke T. May and Symone L. M. Alexander
Polymers 2024, 16(24), 3519; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16243519 - 18 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1571
Abstract
Cellulose microgel beads fabricated using the dropping technique suffer from structural irregularity and mechanical variability. This limits their translation to biomedical applications that are sensitive to variations in material properties. Ionic salts are often uncontrolled by-products of this technique, despite the known effects [...] Read more.
Cellulose microgel beads fabricated using the dropping technique suffer from structural irregularity and mechanical variability. This limits their translation to biomedical applications that are sensitive to variations in material properties. Ionic salts are often uncontrolled by-products of this technique, despite the known effects of ionic salts on cellulose assembly. In this study, the coagulation behavior of cellulose/salt solutions was explored as a way to combat these challenges. An ionic salt (NaCl) was added to a cellulose solution (cellulose/NaOH/urea) prior to coagulation in a hydrochloric acid bath. Quantification of the bead geometry and characterization of the pore architecture revealed that balancing the introduction of salt with the resultant solution viscosity is more effective at reducing structural variability and diffusion limitations than other pre-gelling techniques like thermal gelation. Three-dimensional visualization of the internal pore structure of neat cellulose, thermo-gel, and salt-gel beads revealed that adding salt to the solution is the most effective way to achieve 3-D structural uniformity throughout the bead. Coupled with nanoindentation, we confirmed that the salt produced during coagulation plays a critical role in mechanical variability, and that adding salt to the solution before dropping into the coagulation bath completely screens this effect, producing uniform microgel beads with reproducible mechanical properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Preparation and Application of Cellulose: 2nd Edition)
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19 pages, 2034 KiB  
Article
Activated Nanocellulose from Corn Husk: Application to As and Pb Adsorption Kinetics in Batch Wastewater
by Aydeé M. Solano-Reynoso, Ruth Fany Quispe-Quispe, Yudith Choque-Quispe, Fredy Taipe-Pardo, Yovana Flores-Ccorisapra, Celia R. Yauris-Silvera, Diego E. Peralta-Guevara, Yakov Felipe Carhuarupay-Molleda, Liliana Rodriguez-Cardenas, David Choque-Quispe and Carlos A. Ligarda-Samanez
Polymers 2024, 16(24), 3515; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16243515 - 18 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1249
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the removal of Pb and As from an aqueous solution using corn residue cellulose nanocrystals (NCCs). The corn husk was subjected to alkaline digestion, followed by bleaching and esterification with 3% citric acid to obtain [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the removal of Pb and As from an aqueous solution using corn residue cellulose nanocrystals (NCCs). The corn husk was subjected to alkaline digestion, followed by bleaching and esterification with 3% citric acid to obtain NCCs. A 10 ppm multimetal solution of Pb and As was prepared. The adsorption process was evaluated by adjusting the pH and NCC dosage, optimized through the nonlinear regression of empirical mathematical models. Based on the optimal parameters, the kinetics were evaluated using the PFO and PSO models. The NCCs displayed nanometer-level characteristics with a particle size less than 383.7 nm, a ζ potential in the range of −28–70 mV, pHZCP with an acidic tendency, a porous crystal structure as evaluated through SEM images, and the presence of functional groups with a high chelating capacity, as identified via FTIR. Optimum values of pH 8.0 and 20 mg/L of the NCC dose were found, from which it was observed that the PFO, PSO, and Elovich kinetics showed R2 > 0.974, with an adsorption capacity in the order Pb > As. The adsorbent-formulated NCCs presented a good capacity to remove heavy metals from aqueous media. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Preparation and Application of Cellulose: 2nd Edition)
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17 pages, 71463 KiB  
Article
Nonlinear Dynamic Mechanical and Impact Performance Assessment of Epoxy and Microcrystalline Cellulose-Reinforced Epoxy
by Mertol Tüfekci
Polymers 2024, 16(23), 3284; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16233284 - 25 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 853
Abstract
This study focusses on imrpoving the mechanical performance of epoxy resin by reinforcing it with microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). Epoxy composites with varying MCC mass fractions (0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2%) are prepared and characterised to assess the influence of MCC on strain-rate-dependent flexural [...] Read more.
This study focusses on imrpoving the mechanical performance of epoxy resin by reinforcing it with microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). Epoxy composites with varying MCC mass fractions (0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2%) are prepared and characterised to assess the influence of MCC on strain-rate-dependent flexural properties, impact resistance, and nonlinear viscoelastic behaviour. Three-point bending tests at different strain rates reveal that MCC notably increases the flexural strength and leads to nonlinear mechanical behaviour. It is shown that stiffness, strength and elongation at break increase with rising MCC content. Charpy impact tests show improved energy absorption and toughness, while Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) demonstrates that the materials prepared exhibit increased storage modulus and improved damping across a frequency range. These results indicate that MCC serves as an effective bio-based reinforcement, significantly boosting the strength and toughness of epoxy composites. The findings contribute to the development of sustainable, high-performance materials for advanced engineering applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Preparation and Application of Cellulose: 2nd Edition)
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17 pages, 4622 KiB  
Article
Utilization of Forest Residues for Cellulose Extraction from Timber Species in the High Montane Forest of Chimborazo, Ecuador
by Dennis Renato Manzano Vela, Cristina Nataly Villegas Freire, Rolando Fabian Zabala Vizuete and Ana Carola Flores Mancheno
Polymers 2024, 16(19), 2713; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16192713 - 25 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1203
Abstract
The present study explored the extraction of cellulose from forest residues of four timber species, namely Cedrela montana Moritz ex Turcz, Buddleja incana Ruiz & Pav, Vallea stipularis L. f. and Myrsine andina (Mez) Pipoly, in the high montane forest of Chimborazo province, [...] Read more.
The present study explored the extraction of cellulose from forest residues of four timber species, namely Cedrela montana Moritz ex Turcz, Buddleja incana Ruiz & Pav, Vallea stipularis L. f. and Myrsine andina (Mez) Pipoly, in the high montane forest of Chimborazo province, Ecuador, for the sustainable utilization of leaves, branches, and flowers. An alkaline extraction method was used on the residues without the need for prior degreasing. An ANOVA analysis was applied to evaluate significant differences in cellulose extraction yields among the species’ residues. The characterization techniques used were Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and polarized light optical microscopy, which confirmed the successful extraction of cellulose with characteristics comparable to standard cotton cellulose and other traditional species. The results showed significant variations in cellulose yield among the species, with Vallea stipularis L. f achieving the highest yield of 80.83%. The crystallinity of the samples was clearly evidenced by the polarity of the light in the samples during microscopy, demonstrating that the residues can be a viable and sustainable source of cellulose, contributing to a circular economy and reducing the environmental impact of forest waste. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Preparation and Application of Cellulose: 2nd Edition)
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