Characteristics of Cellulose Nanofibrils (CNF) Film from Red Algae Pulp

Abstract

Red algae cellulose is a promising feedstock for value-added industrial products because it has a faster growth rate, thinner fiber structure, and is easier to extract fiber fromthan wood. To evaluate red algae cellulose as a feed material for its potential applications, CNFs were produced with bleached red algae pulp and then the CNF films were characterized in this study. Both CNFs from the 1-stage and 3-stage bleached red algae pulps were well fibrillated, although the CNF from 1-stage bleached red algae pulp contained short fibrosis and fibrillated fibers due to residual non-cellulosic compounds. The aspect ratio of the CNF from 3-stage bleached red algae pulp was higher than that of the wood-driven CNF. Besides, the film fabricated with the 3-stage bleached red algae CNF produced a tensile index value of 117.1 Nm/g, which was comparable to the strength of the wood CNF film. The 3-stage bleached algae CNF film had higher elongation and water resistance than the wood CNF film. Thus, utilization of red algae as a raw material for CNF production can widen the choice of feedstocks for potential industrial applications.