Hydrophobic modification of cellulose nanocrystal via covalently grafting of castor oil

Hydrophobic cellulose nanocrystals (CNs) have been prepared by grafting isocyanate-terminated castor oil, a kind of natural vegetable oil, onto their surface. The existence of castor oil component in the modified cellulose nanocrystals was verified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, solid-state ¹³C NMR spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. At the same time, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron micrographs further proved that the crystalline structure and large aspect ratio of cellulose nanocrystals were essentially preserved after chemical grafting. Furthermore, the surface of modified cellulose nanocrystals appeared to be hydrophobic as indicated by contact angle measurements. The value of the polar component of surface energy decreased from 21.5 mJ/m² to almost zero via grafting castor oil. These novel hydrophobic castor oil-grafted cellulose nanocrystals appear as valuable alternatives to formulate bionanocomposites with non-polar polymers for optimized performances.     

Interplay of colloidal stability of cellulose nanocrystals and their dispersibility in cellulose acetate butyrate matrix

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) prepared from eucalyptus cellulose CNCs were modified by the reaction with methyl adipoyl chloride, CNCm, or with a mixture of acetic and sulfuric acid, CNCa. The CNC were either dispersed at 0.1 wt% in the pure solvents ethyl acetate (EA), tetrahydrofuran (THF) and dimethylformamide (DMF) or in cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) solutions prepared in these solvents at 0.9 wt%. The colloidal behavior of these dispersions was systematically investigated using a phase separation analyzer LUMiReader^®. The mechanical properties and morphological features of the films resulting from the mixtures of CAB and CNC were determined by dynamic mechanical analysis, optical microscopy and atomic force microscopy, respectively. Regardless the functional group attached to the surface of CNC, the best colloidal stability was observed for dispersions prepared in CAB/DMF solution. Higher degree of substitution of modified CNCs favored the colloidal stability in EA and THF. Composite films prepared from CAB/DMF solutions were more homogeneous and presented better mechanical performance than those prepared in CAB/EA or CAB/THF. The mechanical performance of composites and neat CAB prepared from DMF was CAB/CNCs > CAB/CNCm > CAB/CNCa > CAB, indicating that the modification weakens the percolation process, which is mediated by H bonding.     

Surfactant adsorption onto cellulose surfaces

The adsorption of the cationic surfactant, hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide, C16TAB, onto model cellulose surfaces, prepared by Langmuir-Blodgett deposition as thin films, has been investigated by neutron reflectivity. Comparison between the adsorption of C16TAB onto hydrophilic silica, a hydrophobic cellulose surface, and a regenerated (hydrophilic) cellulose surface is made. Adsorption onto the hydrophilic silica and onto the hydrophilic cellulose surfaces is similar, and is in the form of surface aggregates. In contrast, the adsorption onto the hydrophobic cellulose surface is lower and in the form of a monolayer. The impact of the surfactant adsorption and the in situ surface regeneration on the structure of the cellulose thin films and the nature of solvent penetration into the cellulose films are also investigated. For the hydrophobic cellulose surface, intermixing between the cellulose and surfactant occurs, whereas there is little penetration of surfactant into the hydrophilic cellulose surface. Measurements show that solvent exchange between the partially hydrated cellulose film and the solution is slow on the time scale of the measurements.     

New Pickering emulsions stabilized by bacterial cellulose nanocrystals

We studied oil in water Pickering emulsions stabilized by cellulose nanocrystals obtained by hydrochloric acid hydrolysis of bacterial cellulose. The resulting solid particles, called bacterial cellulose nanocrystals (BCNs), present an elongated shape and low surface charge density, forming a colloidal suspension in water. The BCNs produced proved to stabilize the hexadecane/water interface, promoting monodispersed oil in water droplets around 4 μm in diameter stable for several months. We characterized the emulsion and visualized the particles at the surface of the droplets by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and calculated the droplet coverage by varying the BCN concentration in the aqueous phase. A 60% coverage limit has been defined, above which very stable, deformable droplets are obtained. The high stability of the more covered droplets was attributed to the particle irreversible adsorption associated with the formation of a 2D network. Due to the sustainability and low environmental impact of cellulose, the BCN based emulsions open opportunities for the development of environmentally friendly new materials.     

Surface modification of cotton nanocrystals with a silane agent

The research herewith aims at obtaining cellulose nanocrystals with a reduced hydrophilic surface character using a silane with isocyanate groups (isocyanatepropyltriethoxysilane), which are very reactive to hydroxyl groups and thus, are readily able to react with the low quantity of free hydroxyl groups present in the cellulose nanocrystal surfaces, therefore, promoting surface modification. Cellulose nanocrystals were obtained by hydrochloric acid hydrolysis of cotton fiber and were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and solid state ²⁹Si nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and their morphologies were investigated by scanning and transmission electron microscopy techniques. The nanocrystals presented a needle-like geometry with a 10 nm approximate diameter and a 166 nm average length. FTIR, ²⁹Si NMR and silicon mapping images showed that nanocrystal surface chemical modification was successfully achieved. Also, the results confirm that the chemical modification occurred mainly at the nanocrystal surface, keeping the morphological integrity of the nanocrystals. The applied methodology for surface modification of the cellulose nanocrystals provided nanofillers with more appropriate surface characteristics that allow the dispersion in polymeric matrices and the adhesion at filler-matrix interface to be obtained. This may result in a better performance of these nanocrystals as reinforcing agents of hydrophobic polymer matrices.     

Incorporation into paper of cellulose triacetate films containing semiconductor nanoparticles

CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) were embedded in films of cellulose triacetate (CTA) to give clear films with the broad absorbance and well-defined, size-tunable fluorescence characteristic of QDs. The relative quantum yields of the QDs in polymer were compared to that of the initial QDs dispersed in toluene. Alkaline hydrolysis of the film surfaces to regenerated cellulose rendered the previously hydrophobic CTA film surfaces hydrophilic and compatible with aqueous papermaking. Films containing combinations of different sized QDs gave more complex emission patterns. Small pieces of fluorescent films were added to pulp slurries and incorporated into laboratory paper sheets through hydrogen bonding between the regenerated cellulose film surfaces and cellulosic pulp fibers. The film system (cellulose ester bulk/cellulose surface) can be used to incorporate hydrophobic particles or molecules compatible with solutions of cellulosic polymers into paper products at both high and low loadings. QDs in paper may prove useful for security applications, such as sheets with unique optical signatures.     

Effect of oligosaccharide deposition on the surface of cellulose nanocrystals as a function of acid hydrolysis temperature

Recent findings indicate there is only a small window of sulfuric acid concentration (60–65 %) and temperature (45–65 °C) which allows efficient extraction of cellulose nanocrystals in significant quantities from bleached chemical pulp. In the present report, we develop a systematic explanation for how hydrolysis temperature, at a specific acid concentration, governs CNC surface properties. We demonstrate that CNCs with different suspension viscosity, stability in electrolyte-containing solutions, and optical properties can be produced, based on the presence or not of a precipitated oligosaccharide layer (OSL) on the surface of the nanocrystals. At hydrolysis temperatures below 65 °C, the degree of polymerization (DP) distribution of cellulose chains in CNC samples exhibits a bimodal distribution, indicating an accumulation of oligosaccharides on the CNC surface which increases as the hydrolysis temperature is decreased. At low hydrolysis temperature (45 °C), the oligosaccharides dissolved in the strong acid phase have a DP between 7 and 20 and precipitate onto CNCs when the reaction is quenched by diluting with water. As the temperature of hydrolysis is increased (50–60 °C), the dissolved oligosaccharides are hydrolyzed faster and their DP decreases such that they remain soluble after quenching. At 65 °C, no precipitated oligosaccharides can be detected on the CNC surface. Based on these results, we propose possible explanations to account for the effects of the OSL on the CNC suspension viscosity and stability and on optical properties of CNC films.     

How electrolyte and polyelectrolyte affect the adsorption of the anionic surfactant SDS onto the surface of a cellulose thin film and the structure of the cellulose film. 1. Hydrophobic cellulose

The nature of hydrophobic thin cellulose films, formed by Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) deposition on silica, has been studied using neutron reflectivity (NR). The impact of electrolyte and a polyelectrolyte, poly(dimethyldiallylammonium chloride) (polydmdaac), on the adsorption of the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) onto the surface of the hydrophobic cellulose film and upon the structure of the cellulose film has been investigated. The results show how a combination of polyelectrolytes and electrolyte can be used to manipulate surfactant adsorption onto hydrophobic cellulose surfaces and modify the structure of the cellulose film by swelling and penetration. The results illustrate how polyelectrolytes can be used to reverse adsorption and swelling of cellulose films which are not reversible simply by dilution in solvent.     

Cooperativity in the adsorption of cellulose ethers and fibrinogen at liquid-solid interfaces

The possibility of reducing fibrinogen adsorption to solid surfaces by competitive adsorption of cellulose ethers (EHEC, HEC) was investigated. The surface concentration of fibrinogen adsorbed onto hydrophilic and hydrophobic (methylized) glass was measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The immunoassay was calibrated by ellipsometry, using the initial mass transport limitation of adsorption for calculations of the maximum amount of adsorbed protein.At a hydrophobic surface, the presence of cellulose polymers caused a decrease of the adsorption of fibrinogen. The hydrophobic EHEC (cloud point 35°C) was most efficient and abolished surface-adsorption of the protein.At a hydrophilic surface, positive cooperativity was seen between fibrinogen and cellulose polymers. The hydrophilic HEC (cloud point >100°C) gave the most prominent effect.The results indicate that the affinity between a water soluble polymer or protein and a solid surface is not the only factor determining surface adsorption. The finding that there may be both positive and negative cooperativity in the adsorption of polymers shows the importance of polymer compatibility in layers of adsorbed polymers.     

Thermally-activated shape memory behaviour of bionanocomposites reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals

Bionanocomposites with thermally-activated shape memory ability have been designed based on a synthesized poly(ester-urethane) matrix reinforced with both neat and functionalized cellulose nanocrystals. The functionalization of the cellulose nanocrystals was performed by grafting poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) chains onto their surface. The matrix has a block copolymer structure of two biodegradable and biocompatible polymers, poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and PLLA. This research is focused on the effects of cellulose nanofillers on the thermally-activated shape memory response of the neat matrix confirming that the bionanocomposites are able to show shape memory effects at 35 °C, close to the human body temperature, making these materials good candidates for biomedical applications. Three thermo-mechanical cycles at 50 % of deformation were performed in order to check the thermally-activated shape memory ability of the bionanocomposites and to determine the shape memory parameters, namely the strain fixity (R_f), and the strain recovery (R_r) ratio. Both bionanocomposites, with neat and functionalized cellulose nanocrystals, present excellent shape memory behaviour maintaining the recovery behaviour at values of about 90 % as measured previously for the pure matrix, indicating that the addition of the nanofiller maintains the good ability to recover the initial shape of the matrix. The cellulose nanofillers clearly improve the ability of the polymer to fix the temporary shape. In fact, the bionanocomposites show R_f at about 90 %. Moreover, bionanocomposites reinforced with the functionalized cellulose nanocrystals maintain constant their performance during all the thermo-mechanical cycles thus confirming that the improvement in the shape memory behaviour can be mainly attributed to the increase of the interactions between the functionalized cellulose nanocrystals with the polymeric matrix.     

Langmuir-Blodgett films of cellulose nanocrystals: preparation and characterization

The goal of this work is the preparation of monolayers of cellulose I nanocrystals providing flat crystalline cellulose surfaces. Suspensions of cellulose nanocrystals were prepared by hydrolyzing ramie and tunicin fibers with sulfuric acid. Due to surface grafted sulfate groups, the negatively charged, rod-like cellulose nanocrystals were found to form stable layers at the air-water interface in the presence of a cationic amphiphilic molecule such as dioctadecyldimethylammonium (DODA) used in this work. These layers were formed at different cellulose-DODA weight ratios, compressed and analyzed by tensiometry, ellipsometry and Brewster angle microscopy. At low cellulose concentrations the layers are discontinuous, becoming dense and homogeneous upon reaching a critical weight ratio, which depends on the aspect ratio of the cellulose nanocrystals. After transfer onto silicon wafers, the surface composition and morphology as well as the thickness of the films were examined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ellipsometry and atomic force microscopy. The results indicate that they are monolayer films, well structured, relatively smooth and pure. These films offer a crystalline and easily reproducible model cellulose surface.     

To understand the superior hydrolytic activity after polymorphic conversion from cellulose I to II from the adsorption behaviors of enzymes

The role of the cellulose ultrastructure on the relationship between cellulase binding and activity is not clear yet. In this article, a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) was employed to monitor the interactions between a given cellulase and the cellulose substrates with varied polymorphs of pure cellulose I and II and the intermediate state (I/II). Initially, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) with polymorphs of cellulose I, I/II and II were prepared and spin-coated on QCM sensors. The cellulose substrates’ crystallinity degree was examined by XRD, and morphology was detected by AFM. Then, a commercial cellulase from Trichoderma reesei was used to test the adsorption and hydrolysis of cellulose substrates with polymorphs of I, I/II and II, respectively. The results revealed that in the enzyme adsorption and desorption process at a temperature of 15 °C, CNC-II had the lowest adsorption capacity with a total adsorption mass of 179 ng cm^?2 but the highest reversible binding ratio of 33.7%; for comparison, the values were 235 ng cm^?2 versus 25.6% and 207 ng cm^?2 versus 26.9% for CNC-I and -I/II, respectively. And the conformation of adlayers on CNC-I, -I/II and -II derived from the QCM data became softer and softer in turn. On the other hand, CNC-II exhibited the best enzymatic hydrolytic ability among three substrates when enzymatic hydrolysis experiments were conducted at 45 °C. The results indicated that polymorphic conversion from I to II changes the affinity between the enzyme and cellulose surface; CNC-II has the lowest affinity to the enzyme, but the softer conformation of the adsorbed enzyme layer, and the more reversible adsorption may facilitate its hydrolytic activity. This article gives a perspective from the adsorption dynamics and conformation of the adsorbed enzyme layer, helping to understand the superior hydrolytic activity of cellulose with polymorph II. Thus, there is a potential of polymorphic conversion in the reduction of enzyme dosage and cost in the enzymatic hydrolysis process.     

Preparation and characterization of cellulose nanocrystals via ultrasonication-assisted FeCl3-catalyzed hydrolysis

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) was obtained from bamboo pulp via ultrasonication-assisted FeCl₃-catalyzed hydrolysis process, with parameters optimized by response surface methodology. The optimal parameters were reaction temperature: 107 °C, reaction time: 58 min, ultrasonication time: 186 min. The morphological, crystal structural, chemical structural and thermal features of the prepared cellulose nanocrystals were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transfer infrared (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis. The results showed that the cellulose nanocrystals formed an interconnected network structure and CNC was rod-like with the length of 100–200 nm and the width of 10–20 nm. XRD result revealed that, compared with cellulose pulp, the crystallinity index of CNC increased from 69.5 to 79.4 %, while the cellulose I crystal structure remained. FTIR analysis demonstrated that CNC had the similar chemical structures to that of cellulose pulp, which indicated that the chemical structures of CNC remained unchanged in the presence of FeCl₃-catalyzed hydrolysis process and ultrasonication treatment. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that the resulting CNC exhibited relatively high thermal stability. The research shows that ultrasonication-assisted FeCl₃-catalyzed hydrolysis could be a highly efficient method for preparing CNC.     

Adsorption of four non-ionic cellulose derivatives on cellulose model surfaces

The adsorption of four commercial non-ionic cellulose derivatives onto two different model surfaces of cellulose fibres has been studied with surface plasmon reflectance. The model surfaces of cellulose were ultrathin films of either nano fibrillated cellulose or regenerated cellulose on Au(s). Partial least squares models were used in the analysis of the data and it was found that the type of cellulose model surface seems to be most important for both the total adsorption and the initial adsorption rate of the studied cellulose derivatives. It is believed that this can be explained by morphological differences between the surfaces, and it was found that the properties of the cellulose derivatives that affect the adsorption of the two types of cellulose surface differ. For adsorption onto a NFC-based model surface, the type of cellulose derivative and the polydispersity index (PDI) of the cellulose derivative seem to be the two most important variables for the observed adsorption of these cellulose derivatives. For the regenerated cellulose surface the three most important variables are the M _n of the cellulose derivatives, the DS _NMR of the methyl celluloses, and PDI of the cellulose derivatives. Thus the adsorption of cellulose derivatives on the NFC-based cellulose model surface is strongly affected by the type of substituent, while the same cannot be said for a surface regenerated from N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide. Additionally, the DS _NMR of methyl celluloses affects their adsorption differently on the investigated cellulose model surfaces.     

Hydrolyzability of mannan after adsorption on cellulose

During the pretreatment of lignocellulosic materials, the dissolved mannan would re-adsorb on cellulose, and then inhibited the cellulose hydrolysis by cellulases. However, the adsorption of mannan on cellulose and hydrolyzability of mannan adsorbed on cellulose were not so clear. In this work, the adsorption behavior of mannans on cellulose and the hydrolysis of adsorbed mannan by mannanase were investigated. Adsorption of 1, 4-β-D-mannan (mannan), Konjac glucomannan (GM), and Carob galactomannan (GalM) on Avicel and corn stover (CS) was increased with mannan loading. The adsorbed amount of mannan (94.4 mg/g Avicel and 85.1 mg/g CS) on cellulosic substrates at the mannan concentration of 5 mg/mL was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of GM (65.7 mg/g Avicel and 63.7 mg/g CS) and GalM (44.3 mg/g Avicel and 48.7 mg/g CS). Furthermore, the NMR spectra and molecular weight analysis showed that mannan with less side groups and low molecular weight might increase the adsorption. Mannan, GM, and GalM adsorbed on Avicel and CS, which was used as Avicel/CS -mannan/GM/GalM complex, could be hydrolyzed by mannanase, and the hydrolyzability of Avicel-mannan/GalM complexes was stronger than that of Avicel-GM complex. Similarly, the reducing sugars increased by 23.2 and 54.2 % for Avicel-mannan and Avicel-GalM complexes after 48 h hydrolysis by cellulase and mannanase, respectively. The results suggested that the addition of mannanase could hydrolyze the mannan adsorbed on cellulose and potentially improved hydrolysis efficiency of cellulose in lignocelluloses. Additionally, the mannanase supplementation could be extended to the removal of mannan on pulp by mannanase and finally affecting the dissolving pulps and paper quality.     

Thermo-responsive superhydrophobic paper using nanostructured cellulose stearoyl ester

Hydrophilic paper was rendered with hydrophobic and superhydrophobic property after the treatment with solutions and nanoparticles of cellulose stearoyl ester (CSE), respectively. Cellulose stearoyl ester with a degree of substitution of 2.99 was synthesized from cellulose using stearoyl chloride. By dip-coating paper in CSE solution of at least 3 mg/ml in toluene, paper became hydrophobic with stable water contact angles of more than 120°. After further spray-coating using CSE nanoparticles that were prepared from CSE solution via nanoprecipitation, paper surface became superhydrophobic with water contact angles of larger than 150°. These superhydrophobic surfaces also exhibited self-cleaning character. Furthermore, the superhydrophobic paper surfaces showed a temperature-responsive character and could be turned hydrophobic after a heat-treatment at 70 °C for 5 min.     

Cellulosic nanocomposite membranes from hydroxypropyl cellulose reinforced by cellulose nanocrystals

Cellulosic nanocomposite membranes were prepared by incorporation of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) into a hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) matrix using a mixing/evaporation technique. CNCs were obtained from filter paper using the sulfuric acid hydrolysis method with the aid of ultrasonication. The relationship between the microstructure and mechanical properties of the CNCs/HPC nanocomposite membranes was studied. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the CNCs were well dispersed in the HPC matrix, and the fracture surface demonstrated a fibrous characteristic. With increasing CNCs content, the tensile strength and Young’s modulus of the CNCs/HPC nanocomposite membranes gradually increased. At 5 wt% content of CNCs, the strength was increased by 525 % and the Young’s modulus by 124 % compared with pure HPC membrane. Moreover, the effect of the phase change of HPC on the mechanical properties of the CNCs_5wt%/HPC nanocomposite membranes and the corresponding mechanism were also studied.     

Surface modification of cellulose with plant triglycerides for hydrophobicity

Hydrophobic cotton was achieved by surface modification of the cellulose with triglycerides from several plant oils including soybean, rapeseed, olive and coconut oils. These oils were delivered to the cellulose substrates in homogeneous solutions of ethanol or acetone as well as aqueous emulsions. Surface modification was facilitated by solvent evaporation followed by heating between 110 and 120 °C for 60 min. All oils, except for coconut, produced hydrophobic and less water-absorbing cotton, supporting the desirable role of higher unsaturation in the fatty acids to achieve crosslinked network. The most hydrophobic surfaces were obtained by the reaction with 1% soybean oil in acetone. On both bleached and scoured cotton, a water contact angle of 80° and water absorption value of 0.82 μL/mg were achieved. The acquired hydrophobicity was not only retained after water washing but also improved with subsequent exposures to elevated temperatures. The surface tension of scoured cotton cellulose was lowered from 63.81 mJ/m² to 25.74 mJ/m² when modified by soybean oil delivered in acetone, which is lower than that of poly(ethylene terephthalate). An aqueous emulsion of soybean oil also rendered the scoured cotton hydrophobic, which shows promise for a green chemistry and bio-based approach to achieve water repellency on cellulosic materials.     

Wetting kinetics of oil mixtures on fluorinated model cellulose surfaces

The wetting of two different model cellulose surfaces has been studied; a regenerated cellulose (RG) surface prepared by spin-coating, and a novel multilayer film of poly(ethyleneimine) and a carboxymethylated microfibrillated cellulose (MFC). The cellulose films were characterized in detail using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). AFM indicates smooth and continuous films on a nanometer scale and the RMS roughness of the RG cellulose and MFC surfaces was determined to be 3 and 6 nm, respectively. The cellulose films were modified by coating with various amounts of an anionic fluorosurfactant, perfluorooctadecanoic acid, or covalently modified with pentadecafluorooctanyl chloride. The fluorinated cellulose films were used to follow the spreading mechanisms of three different oil mixtures. The viscosity and surface tension of the oils were found to be essential parameters governing the spreading kinetics on these surfaces. XPS and dispersive surface energy measurements were made on the cellulose films coated with perfluorooctadecanoic acid. A strong correlation was found between the surface concentration of fluorine, the dispersive surface energy and the contact angle of castor oil on the surface. A dispersive surface energy less than 18 mN/m was required in order for the cellulose surface to be non-wetting (theta e>90 degrees ) by castor oil.     

Efficient hydrolyzation of cellulose in ionic liquid by novel sulfonated biomass-based catalysts

A green and effective approach for comprehensive hydrolyzation of cellulose has been described. Several carbon-based solid acids were successfully prepared using various biomass (glucose, microcrystalline cellulose, bamboo, and rice husk) and used to catalyze cellulose hydrolysis. The acid groups (–SO₃H and –COOH) were successfully introduced onto the surface of the carbon-based solid acid catalysts as evidenced by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The structure of the prepared catalysts was characterized by scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction. The catalysts showed excellent catalytic performance for hydrolysis of cellulose. To improve the reaction efficiency, ball-milling and solubilization in ionic liquids of cellulose were adopted. A maximum total reducing sugar yield of 81.8 % was obtained in ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium chloride at 125 °C for 90 min when the water addition was 10 % of ionic liquid. This study provided a promising strategy to synthesize solid acids from lignocelluloses, which were further used to convert biomass into biofuels and platform chemicals.