Design and synthesis of transparent and flexible nanofibrillated cellulose films to replace petroleum-based polymers

Effect of Glycerol Concentrations on the Characteristics of Cellulose Films from Cattail (Typha angustifolia L.) Flowers

Plastic waste has become a big problem for the environment globally. Biodegradable polymers are a potential replacement for plastics that can have a positive outcome both environmentally and economically. In this work, we used acid hydrolysis and alkaline treatment to extract cellulose fibers from cattails. The obtained cellulose was used as a substrate for the fabrication of cellulose film using a casting technique on plastic plates. Different concentrations of the plasticizer, glycerol, were used to prepare films for comparison, and its effects on the film's characteristics were observed. The morphology, chemical structure, and thermal stability of the cattail cellulose (CTC) films were studied using techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. Measurements of transparency, moisture content (MC), water solubility (MS), and water contact angle (WCA) were also performed. Introducing glycerol into the films increased the transparency, MC, and WS values, as well as the gap width between film textures. However, it resulted in a decrease in the WCA of the films, showing that the hydrophilicity of the films is increased by the addition of glycerol. The interaction between the functional groups of cellulose and glycerol was established from the ATR-FTIR and XRD data. The obtained results indicated that glycerol affected the thermal stability and the degree of crystallinity of the produced films. Accordingly, the hydrophilicity of the cellulose film was increased by increasing the glycerol content; therefore, cattail cellulose films can be used as a biodegradable alternative to plastic in the future.

Bionanocomposites with Enhanced Physical Properties from Curli Amyloid Assemblies and Cellulose Nanofibrils

Proteinaceous amyloid fibrils are one of the stiffest biopolymers due to their extensive cross-β-sheet quaternary structure, whereas cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) exhibit interesting properties associated with their nanoscale size, morphology, large surface area, and biodegradability. Herein, CNFs were supplemented with amyloid fibrils assembled from the Curli-specific gene A (CsgA) protein, the main component of bacterial biofilms. The resulting composites showed superior mechanical properties, up to a 7-fold increase compared to unmodified CNF films. Wettability and thermogravimetric analyses demonstrated high surface hydrophobicity and robust thermal tolerance. Bulk spectroscopic characterization of CNF-CsgA films revealed key insights into the molecular organization within the bionanocomposites. Atomic force microscopy and photoinduced force microscopy revealed the high-resolution location of curli assemblies into the CNF films. This novel sustainable and cost-effective CNF-based bionanocomposites supplemented with intertwined bacterial amyloid fibrils opens novel directions for environmentally friendly applications demanding high mechanical, water-repelling properties, and thermal resistance.

Valorization of Cellulose-Based Materials from Agricultural Waste: Comparison between Sugarcane Bagasse and Rice Straw

Sugarcane bagasse and rice straw are major agricultural byproducts often discarded or burned as waste after cultivation, leaving their untapped potential for utilization. In this work, cellulose fibers were extracted from sugarcane bagasse and rice straw using a simple procedure: alkaline treatment with sodium hydroxide, bleaching with sodium hypochlorite, and acid hydrolysis. The obtained cellulosic materials were successfully prepared into milky white and transparent films, of which the transparency slightly decreased with the addition of glycerol. The surface of all the films appeared homogeneous with a random orientation of fibers. The rice-straw (RS) film had a more fragile texture than the sugarcane-bagasse (SBG) film. The FTIR analysis clearly indicated the functional groups of cellulose, as well as glycerol for the films mixed with glycerol. Thermal analysis showed that the native SBG film decomposed at 346 °C, higher than the native RS film (339 °C). The presence of glycerol in the films resulted in slightly lower maximum decomposition temperature (Td,max) values as well as mechanical properties. Regarding water susceptibility, the RS film had a higher percentage than the native SBG and glycerol-mixed SBG films. The extracted cellulose from both sources could form almost spherical-shaped cellulose particles. Thus, through the simple extraction method, sugarcane bagasse and rice straw could serve as excellent sources of cellulose materials for preparing cellulose films and particles, which would be advantageous to the development of cellulose-based materials.

Bacterial cellulose: A promising biopolymer with interesting properties and applications

The ever-increasing demands for materials with desirable properties led to the development of materials that impose unfavorable influences on the environment and the ecosystem. Developing a low-cost, durable, and eco-friendly functional material with biological origins has become necessary to avoid these consequences. Bacterial cellulose generated by bacteria dispenses excellent structural and functional properties and satisfies these requirements. BC and BC-derived materials are essential in developing pure and environmentally safe functional materials. This review offers a detailed understanding of the biosynthesis of BC, properties, various functionalization methods, and applicability in biomedical, water treatment, food storage, energy conversion, and energy storage applications.

Recent Studies on the Preparation and Application of Ionic Amphiphilic Lignin: A Comprehensive Review

As the second most abundant natural polymer after cellulose, lignin has received considerable attention recently due to its reproducibility, safety, and biodegradability. Studies are now focusing on the development of new lignin applications to replace petroleum-based chemicals. Unfortunately, lignin has several inherent problems, such as poor water solubility and a tendency to agglomerate. However, after chemical modification, lignin can gain new functions through the introduction of new functional groups. For example, amphiphilic lignin is a polymer that is soluble in both water and organic solvents. Amphiphilic lignin polymers can be divided into anionic, cationic, and anionic-cationic amphoteric lignin-based polymers, according to the ions contained in their molecular structure. Amphiphilic lignin polymers also have a wide range of applications in various industrial fields and can be used as wetting agents, detergents, controlled release fertilizers, adsorbents, and emulsifiers. Thus, this article reviews research progress on the synthesis and applications of amphiphilic lignin-derived polymers over the past 10 years, providing a theoretical reference for the utilization of high-added-value and high-performance lignin.

Mechanical properties of cellulose nanofibril papers and their bionanocomposites: A review

Cellulose nanofibril (CNF) paper has various applications due to its unique advantages. Herein, we present the intrinsic mechanical properties of CNF papers, along with the preparation and properties of nanoparticle-reinforced CNF composite papers. The literature on CNF papers reveals a strong correlation between the intrafibrillar network structure and the resulting mechanical properties. This correlation is found to hold for all primary factors affecting mechanical properties, indicating that the performance of CNF materials depends directly on and can be tailored by controlling the intrafibrillar network of the system. The parameters that influence the mechanical properties of CNF papers were critically reviewed. Moreover, the effect on the mechanical properties by adding nanofillers to CNF papers to produce multifunctional composite products was discussed. We concluded this article with future perspectives and possible developments in CNFs and their bionanocomposite papers.