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Uşurelu CD, Frone AN, Oprică GM, Raduly MF, Ghiurea M, Neblea EI, Nicolae CA, Filip X, Teodorescu M, Panaitescu DM. Preparation and functionalization of cellulose nanofibers using a naturally occurring acid and their application in stabilizing linseed oil/water Pickering emulsions. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 262:129884. [PMID: 38336328 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.129884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Finding efficient and environmental-friendly methods to produce and chemically modify cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) remains a challenge. In this study, lactic acid (LA) treatment followed by microfluidization was employed for the isolation and functionalization of CNFs. Small amounts of HCl (0.01, 0.1, and 0.2 M) were used alongside LA to intensify cellulose hydrolysis. FTIR spectroscopy and solid-state 13C NMR confirmed the successful functionalization of CNFs with lactyl groups during isolation, while SEM, AFM, and rheological tests revealed that the addition of HCl governed the fibers' sizes and morphology. Notably, the treatment with LA and 0.2 M HCl resulted in a more efficient defibrillation, yielding smaller nanofibers sizes (62 nm) as compared to the treatment with LA or HCl alone (90 and 108 nm, respectively). The aqueous suspension of CNFs treated with LA and 0.2 M HCl showed the highest viscosity and storage modulus. LA-modified CNFs were tested as stabilizers for linseed oil/water (50/50 v/v) emulsions. Owing to the lactyl groups grafted on their surface and higher aspect ratio, CNFs produced with 0.1 and 0.2 M HCl led to emulsions with increased stability (a creaming index increase of only 3 % and 1 %, respectively, in 30 days) and smaller droplets sizes of 23.4 ± 1.2 and 35.5 ± 0.5 μm, respectively. The results showed that LA-modified CNFs are promising stabilizers for Pickering emulsions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cătălina-Diana Uşurelu
- National Institute for Research and Development in Chemistry and Petrochemistry, 202 Splaiul Independentei, 060021 Bucharest, Romania; Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, 1-7 Gh. Polizu Street, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Adriana Nicoleta Frone
- National Institute for Research and Development in Chemistry and Petrochemistry, 202 Splaiul Independentei, 060021 Bucharest, Romania.
| | - Gabriela-Mădălina Oprică
- National Institute for Research and Development in Chemistry and Petrochemistry, 202 Splaiul Independentei, 060021 Bucharest, Romania; Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, 1-7 Gh. Polizu Street, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Monica Florentina Raduly
- National Institute for Research and Development in Chemistry and Petrochemistry, 202 Splaiul Independentei, 060021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Marius Ghiurea
- National Institute for Research and Development in Chemistry and Petrochemistry, 202 Splaiul Independentei, 060021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Elena Iulia Neblea
- National Institute for Research and Development in Chemistry and Petrochemistry, 202 Splaiul Independentei, 060021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Cristian-Andi Nicolae
- National Institute for Research and Development in Chemistry and Petrochemistry, 202 Splaiul Independentei, 060021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Xenia Filip
- National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, 67-103 Donath Street, 400293 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Mircea Teodorescu
- Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, 1-7 Gh. Polizu Street, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Denis Mihaela Panaitescu
- National Institute for Research and Development in Chemistry and Petrochemistry, 202 Splaiul Independentei, 060021 Bucharest, Romania.
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Yokoyama T, Ohashi T, Kikuchi N, Fujimori A. Fabrication of cellulose nanofibers by the method of interfacial molecular films and the creation of organized soluble starch molecular films. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2022.128784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Sustainable Applications of Nanofibers in Agriculture and Water Treatment: A Review. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14010464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Natural fibers are an important source for producing polymers, which are highly applicable in their nanoform and could be used in very broad fields such as filtration for water/wastewater treatment, biomedicine, food packaging, harvesting, and storage of energy due to their high specific surface area. These natural nanofibers could be mainly produced through plants, animals, and minerals, as well as produced from agricultural wastes. For strengthening these natural fibers, they may reinforce with some substances such as nanomaterials. Natural or biofiber-reinforced bio-composites and nano–bio-composites are considered better than conventional composites. The sustainable application of nanofibers in agricultural sectors is a promising approach and may involve plant protection and its growth through encapsulating many bio-active molecules or agrochemicals (i.e., pesticides, phytohormones, and fertilizers) for smart delivery at the targeted sites. The food industry and processing also are very important applicable fields of nanofibers, particularly food packaging, which may include using nanofibers for active–intelligent food packaging, and food freshness indicators. The removal of pollutants from soil, water, and air is an urgent field for nanofibers due to their high efficiency. Many new approaches or applicable agro-fields for nanofibers are expected in the future, such as using nanofibers as the indicators for CO and NH3. The role of nanofibers in the global fighting against COVID-19 may represent a crucial solution, particularly in producing face masks.
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