Controlling Miscibility of the Interphase in Polymer-Grafted Nanocellulose/Cellulose Triacetate Nanocomposites

Nanocellulose-stabilized nanocomposites for effective Hg(II) removal and detection: a comprehensive review

Mercury pollution, with India ranked as the world's second-largest emitter, poses a critical environmental and public health challenge and underscores the need for rigorous research and effective mitigation strategies. Nanocellulose is derived from cellulose, the most abundant natural polymer on earth, and stands out as an excellent choice for mercury ion remediation due to its remarkable adsorption capacity, which is attributed to its high specific surface area and abundant functional groups, enabling efficient Hg(II) ion removal from contaminated water sources. This review paper investigates the compelling potential of nanocellulose as a scavenging tool for Hg(II) ion contamination. The comprehensive examination encompasses the fundamental attributes of nanocellulose, its diverse fabrication techniques, and the innovative development methods of nanocellulose-based nanocomposites. The paper further delves into the mechanisms that underlie Hg removal using nanocellulose, as well as the integration of nanocellulose in Hg detection methodologies, and also acknowledges the substantial challenges that lie ahead. This review aims to pave the way for sustainable solutions in mitigating Hg contamination using nanocellulose-based nanocomposites to address the global context of this environmental concern.

Understanding Nanocellulose-Water Interactions: Turning a Detriment into an Asset

Modern technology has enabled the isolation of nanocellulose from plant-based fibers, and the current trend focuses on utilizing nanocellulose in a broad range of sustainable materials applications. Water is generally seen as a detrimental component when in contact with nanocellulose-based materials, just like it is harmful for traditional cellulosic materials such as paper or cardboard. However, water is an integral component in plants, and many applications of nanocellulose already accept the presence of water or make use of it. This review gives a comprehensive account of nanocellulose-water interactions and their repercussions in all key areas of contemporary research: fundamental physical chemistry, chemical modification of nanocellulose, materials applications, and analytical methods to map the water interactions and the effect of water on a nanocellulose matrix.

Nanocellulose-Based Nanocomposites for Sustainable Applications: A Review

Nanocellulose has emerged in recent years as one of the most notable green materials available due to its numerous appealing factors, including its non-toxic nature, biodegradability, high aspect ratio, superior mechanical capabilities, remarkable optical properties, anisotropic shape, high mechanical strength, excellent biocompatibility and tailorable surface chemistry. It is proving to be a promising material in a range of applications pertinent to the material engineering to biomedical applications. In this review, recent advances in the preparation, modification, and emerging application of nanocellulose, especially cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), are described and discussed based on the analysis of the latest investigations. This review presents an overview of general concepts in nanocellulose-based nanocomposites for sustainable applications. Beginning with a brief introduction of cellulose, nanocellulose sources, structural characteristics and the extraction process for those new to the area, we go on to more in-depth content. Following that, the research on techniques used to modify the surface properties of nanocellulose by functionalizing surface hydroxyl groups to impart desirable hydrophilic-hydrophobic balance, as well as their characteristics and functionalization strategies, were explained. The usage of nanocellulose in nanocomposites in versatile fields, as well as novel and foreseen markets of nanocellulose products, are also discussed. Finally, the difficulties, challenges and prospects of materials based on nanocellulose are then discussed in the last section for readers searching for future high-end eco-friendly functional materials.

Reinforcing canola protein matrix with chemically tailored nanocrystalline cellulose improves the functionality of canola protein-based packaging materials

Canola protein derived from the canola industry byproduct is a potent biopolymer source to develop sustainable food packaging materials, but it has limitations due to its poor mechanical and barrier properties. Nanomaterials such as nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) have shown promising potential in improving material properties. The current study aimed to enhance the functionality of canola protein-based films using TEMPO ((2,2,6,6-Tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl)oxyl) modified nanocrystalline cellulose (TM-NCC). TEMPO modification was performed using TEMPO/NaClO/NaBr based oxidation. Modified and unmodified nanocrystalline cellulose (U-NCC) were used at different weight ratios to prepare the films. TEMPO-mediated oxidation converted 19.61 ± 3.53 % of primary -OH groups into -COOH groups. The addition of U-NCC and TM-NCC significantly increased the tensile strength reporting the highest value of 8.36 ± 0.85 MPa for 5% TM-NCC, which was only 3.43 ± 0.66 MPa for control films. Interestingly, both U-NCC and TM-NCC enhanced the films' water barrier and thermal properties compared to control.

Fabrication of Highly Interconnected Poly(ε-caprolactone)/cellulose Nanofiber Composite Foams by Microcellular Foaming and Leaching Processes

In this study, microcellular polycaprolactone (PCL)/sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃)/cellulose nanofiber (CNF) composite foams with highly interconnected porous structures were successfully fabricated by microcellular foaming and particle leaching processes. Supercritical CO₂ (scCO₂) served as a physical foaming agent, NaHCO₃ was chosen as a chemical foaming agent and porogen, and CNF acted as a heterogeneous nucleating agent. The effect of scCO₂, NaHCO₃, and CNF on pore structures and the cofoaming mechanism were investigated. The results indicated that the addition of NaHCO₃ and CNF increased the melt strength of the PCL matrix significantly. During the foaming process, the presence of CNF can form a rigid network due to the hydrogen bonding or mechanical entanglement between individual nanofibers, improving the nucleating efficiency but slowing down the cell growth rate. Additionally, due to the interaction of "soft" PCL matrix and "hard" domains in a PCL-based composite during the foaming process, together with the NaHCO₃ leaching process, highly interconnected cell structures appeared. The obtained PCL/NaHCO₃/CNF composite foams had a cell size of 15.8 μm and cell density of 6.3 × 10⁷ cells/cm³, as well as an open-cell content of 82%. The reported strategy in this paper may provide the guidelines and data supports for the fabrication of a PCL-based porous scaffold.