The behaviour of cationic NanoFibrillar Cellulose in aqueous media

This paper deals, with cationically modified NanoFibrillar Cellulose (cat NFC), obtained by reacting a dissolving pulp with 2,3-epoxypropyl trimethylammonium chloride (EPTMAC). The cat NFC was thoroughly characterized in terms of morphology and physical properties. The dimensions of individual cellulose nanofibrils were determined by atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging in water and in air. Fibrils as thin as 0.8–1.2 nm were observed in water. The fibril diameter changed upon drying and the average size was further quantified by image analysis. The experiments showed the importance of characterizing nanocellulosic materials in situ before drying. The fibril size in air was confirmed by cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM), and it was found to be 2.6–3.0 nm. Smooth ultrathin films of cationic NFC were prepared by spincoating on silica substrates. The effect of electrolyte concentration and pH on swelling of the cationic NFC film was studied using a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation. The results showed that at pH = 8 the cat NFC film was insensitive to electrolyte changes while at pH = 4.5, the water content of the film decreased with increasing ionic strength. The electrophoretic mobility measurements showed a cationic zeta potential for the cat NFC that decreased at increasing pH, verifying the swelling behaviour.     

Surface functionalization of nanofibrillated cellulose using click-chemistry approach in aqueous media

In the present work, amino functionalized nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) was prepared using click-chemistry in aqueous reaction conditions. First, reactive azide groups were introduced on the surface of NFC by the etherification of 1-azido-2,3-epoxypropane in alkaline water/isopropanol-mixture at ambient temperature. Then the azide groups were reacted with propargyl amine utilizing copper catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC), leading to pH-responsive 1,2,3-triazole-4-methanamine decorated NFC. The reaction products were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The presence of the attached azide groups was also confirmed by reacting them with 5-(dimethylamino)-N-(2-propyl)-1-naphthalenesulfonamide by CuAAC, yielding highly fluorescent NFC. In addition, atom force microscopy and rheology studies confirmed that the original NFC nanostructure was maintained during the synthesis.