(Nano)cellulose: Extraction, Characterizations, Application

A special issue of Polysaccharides (ISSN 2673-4176).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2021) | Viewed by 24694

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Inha University, 100 Inha-ro, Michuhol-ku, Incheon 22212, Republic of Korea
Interests: smart materials and devices; nanocellulose; elecro active materials; nanocarbon; microfabrication; high strength nanocomposites; energy harvestor; sensor and actuators; optical applications
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cellulose is a major polysaccharide that forms the cell walls of higher plants. It can be extracted from cotton, bast, wood pulp and colorants, or by microorganisms. The extracted (nano)cellulose is not purely molecular in its form, but a continuous and repeated polymerization of crystalline and amorphous structure. The crystalline regions have strong mechanical properties through glucosidic bonds, van der Waals force and hydrogen bonds, and the amorphous regions bring properties of flexibility and swelling. Based on this particular structure, the (nano)cellulose is being studied explosively in various fields, either in its pure form, or via chemical surface treatments, or forming composites with various nanomaterials.

This Special Issue is devoted to the most recent research on these topics, and covers all aspects from extraction to application.

Dr. Hyun Chan Kim
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • cellulose
  • nanocellulose
  • cellulose nanofiber
  • cellulose nanocrystal
  • nanocomposite
  • mechanical properties
  • nanostructure
  • sensor
  • actuator
  • optical application

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

23 pages, 1973 KiB  
Article
Analysis of the Heterogeneities of First and Second Order of Cellulose Derivatives: A Complex Challenge
by Petra Mischnick, Kristin Voiges, Julia Cuers-Dammann, Inga Unterieser, Patrick Sudwischer, Anika Wubben and Payam Hashemi
Polysaccharides 2021, 2(4), 843-865; https://doi.org/10.3390/polysaccharides2040051 - 3 Nov 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3163
Abstract
The complexity of the substituent distribution in polysaccharide derivatives is discussed and defined. The challenges regarding analytical characterization that results from various interrelated categories of distributions, including molecular weight, chemical composition, and microstructure, are outlined. Due to these convoluted levels of complexity, results [...] Read more.
The complexity of the substituent distribution in polysaccharide derivatives is discussed and defined. The challenges regarding analytical characterization that results from various interrelated categories of distributions, including molecular weight, chemical composition, and microstructure, are outlined. Due to these convoluted levels of complexity, results should always be interpreted with carefulness. Various analytical approaches which have been applied to starch and cellulose derivatives are recapped, including enzymatic, mass spectrometric, and chromatographic methods. The relation of heterogeneities of first and second order among and along the polysaccharide chains is addressed. Finally, examples of own analytical work on cellulose ethers are presented, including the MS analysis of methyl cellulose (MC) blends and fractionation studies of fully esterified MC, especially its 4-methoxybenzoates by gradient HPLC on normal phase. Preparative fractionation according to the degree of substitution (DS) allows follow-up analysis in order to get more detailed information on the substituent distribution in such sub-fractions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue (Nano)cellulose: Extraction, Characterizations, Application)
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18 pages, 5859 KiB  
Article
Cinnamon Essential Oil Nanocellulose-Based Pickering Emulsions: Processing Parameters Effect on Their Formation, Stabilization, and Antimicrobial Activity
by Alana Gabrieli de Souza, Rafaela Reis Ferreira, Elisa Silva Freire Aguilar, Leonardo Zanata and Derval dos Santos Rosa
Polysaccharides 2021, 2(3), 608-625; https://doi.org/10.3390/polysaccharides2030037 - 3 Aug 2021
Cited by 36 | Viewed by 5673
Abstract
This work aimed to prepare nanocellulose-based Pickering emulsions using cinnamon essential oil. Different formulations were investigated by varying the preparation time, homogenization speed, oil and nanocellulose concentration, and morphology. The emulsions were first characterized by droplet size, morphologies, and storage stability. The Design [...] Read more.
This work aimed to prepare nanocellulose-based Pickering emulsions using cinnamon essential oil. Different formulations were investigated by varying the preparation time, homogenization speed, oil and nanocellulose concentration, and morphology. The emulsions were first characterized by droplet size, morphologies, and storage stability. The Design of Experiments (DoE) was used to evaluate the parameter’s effects on the emulsions’ stability, and the emulsions with optimum particle size and stability were evaluated by antimicrobial activity. The more stable emulsions required higher energy in the system to obtain efficient emulsification. The cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) emulsions showed a 30% oil volume as a constant to obtain a low creaming index (34.4% and 42.8%) and zeta potential values around −29 mV, indicating an electrostatic stabilization. The cellulose nanofiber (CNF) emulsions showed 100% stability after a month using a 20% oil volume as a constant and Zeta potential values around −15 mV, indicating a steric stabilization. CNF-emulsions’ inhibition halos for Bacilus subtilis were 30.1 ± 3.7% smaller than those found in CNC-emulsions (65 ± 2.9 mm), while Pseudomonasaeruginosas almost do not present differences in the inhibition halos. These results suggest that the nanocellulose morphology may promote a regulation on the EO migration to the medium, as well that this migration ratio does not affect the bacteria. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue (Nano)cellulose: Extraction, Characterizations, Application)
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12 pages, 19990 KiB  
Article
Sequential Oxidation on Wood and Its Application in Pb2+ Removal from Contaminated Water
by Priyanka R. Sharma, Sunil K. Sharma, Marc Nolan, Wenqi Li, Lakshta Kundal and Benjamin S. Hsiao
Polysaccharides 2021, 2(2), 245-256; https://doi.org/10.3390/polysaccharides2020017 - 7 Apr 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3648
Abstract
Raw wood was subjected to sequential oxidation to produce 2,3,6-tricarboxycellulose (TCC) nanofibers with a high surficial charge of 1.14 mmol/g in the form of carboxylate groups. Three oxidation steps, including nitro-oxidation, periodate, and sodium chlorite oxidation, were successfully applied to generate TCC nanofibers [...] Read more.
Raw wood was subjected to sequential oxidation to produce 2,3,6-tricarboxycellulose (TCC) nanofibers with a high surficial charge of 1.14 mmol/g in the form of carboxylate groups. Three oxidation steps, including nitro-oxidation, periodate, and sodium chlorite oxidation, were successfully applied to generate TCC nanofibers from raw wood. The morphology of extracted TCC nanofibers measured using TEM and AFM indicated the average length, width, and thickness were in the range of 750 ± 110, 4.5 ± 1.8, and 1.23 nm, respectively. Due to high negative surficial charges on TCC, it was studied for its absorption capabilities against Pb2+ ions. The remediation results indicated that a low concentration of TCC nanofibers (0.02 wt%) was able to remove a wide range of Pb2+ ion impurities from 5–250 ppm with an efficiency between 709–99%, whereby the maximum adsorption capacity (Qm) was 1569 mg/g with R2 0.69531 calculated from Langmuir fitting. It was observed that the high adsorption capacity of TCC nanofibers was due to the collective effect of adsorption and precipitation confirmed by the FTIR and SEM/EDS analysis. The high carboxylate content and fiber morphology of TCC has enabled it as an excellent substrate to remove Pb2+ ions impurities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue (Nano)cellulose: Extraction, Characterizations, Application)
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16 pages, 3607 KiB  
Article
Surface Modification of Cellulose from Oat Hull with Citric Acid Using Ultrasonication and Reactive Extrusion Assisted Processes
by Gina Alejandra Gil Giraldo, Janaina Mantovan, Beatriz M. Marim, João Otávio F. Kishima and Suzana Mali
Polysaccharides 2021, 2(2), 218-233; https://doi.org/10.3390/polysaccharides2020015 - 1 Apr 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4001
Abstract
This study aimed to produce modified cellulose extracted from oat hulls by an esterification reaction with citric acid (CA) employing ultrasonication and reactive extrusion assisted processes. Modified samples were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (DRX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), [...] Read more.
This study aimed to produce modified cellulose extracted from oat hulls by an esterification reaction with citric acid (CA) employing ultrasonication and reactive extrusion assisted processes. Modified samples were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (DRX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), wettability, oil and water absorption capacities, water adsorption capacity, and thermal stability. From FTIR results it can be observed a new band for all modified samples at 1735 cm−1, confirming the esterification. The morphology and crystallinity pattern of fibers were not affected by esterification, and crystallinity indexes ranged from 43% (unmodified cellulose) to 44–49% in modified samples. Both groups of samples, obtained by ultrasonication and reactive extrusion, showed decreases in water absorption capacities (1.63–1.71 g/g) compared to unmodified cellulose (9.38 g/g). It was observed an increase in oil retention capacity from 1.80 g/g (unmodified cellulose) to 4.57–7.31 g/g after esterification, and also the modified samples presented higher affinity by a non-polar solvent in the wettability test. The new properties of modified cellulose expand its use in the industry and prove that ultrasonication and reactive extrusion can be used to obtain esterified cellulose, being eco-friendly, simple, and convenient processes with short reaction times. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue (Nano)cellulose: Extraction, Characterizations, Application)
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16 pages, 4657 KiB  
Article
Strengthening Regenerated Cellulose Fibers Sourced from Recycled Cotton T-Shirt Using Glucaric Acid for Antiplasticization
by Manik Chandra Biswas, Ryan Dwyer, Javier Jimenez, Hsun-Cheng Su and Ericka Ford
Polysaccharides 2021, 2(1), 138-153; https://doi.org/10.3390/polysaccharides2010010 - 4 Mar 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 6794
Abstract
The recycling of cellulose from cotton textiles would minimize the use of virgin crop fibers, but recycled polymers are generally inferior in mechanical performance to those made from virgin resins. This challenge prompted the investigation of biobased additives that were capable of improving [...] Read more.
The recycling of cellulose from cotton textiles would minimize the use of virgin crop fibers, but recycled polymers are generally inferior in mechanical performance to those made from virgin resins. This challenge prompted the investigation of biobased additives that were capable of improving the mechanical properties of fibers by means of antiplasticizing additives. In this study, regenerated cellulose (RC) fibers were spun from cellulose found in cotton T-shirts, and fibers were mechanically strengthened with glucaric acid (GA), a nontoxic product of fermentation. The recycled pulp was activated using aqueous sodium hydroxide and then followed by acid neutralization, prior to the direct dissolution in lithium chloride/N,N-dimethylacetamide (LiCl/DMAc) at 3 wt.% cellulose. At 10% (w/w) GA, the tensile modulus and strength of regenerated cellulose from recycled cotton fibers increased five-fold in contrast to neat fibers without GA. The highest modulus and tenacity values of 664 cN/dtex and of 9.7 cN/dtex were reported for RC fibers containing GA. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue (Nano)cellulose: Extraction, Characterizations, Application)
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