Abstract
Homogeneous high aspect ratio cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) were prepared from Laminaria hyperborea (LH) seaweed cellulose without any initial mechanical, biological or chemical pre-treatments. Fourier-transform infrared spectrophotometry revealed that LH cellulose was of the cellulose Iα allomorph, typical of algal cellulose. Compared with wood derived CNF, significant enhancements in crystallinity, viscoelastic properties, water retention values (WRV) and morphological characteristics were identified with a single pass at 1 wt. % cellulose content through a high-pressure homogeniser. Further mechanical fibrillation did not lead to appreciable improvements in material properties that would justify the added energy consumption, which at a single pass is at least a factor of 10 lower than with wood cellulose processing. Good quality CNFs with little compromise in material properties were also obtainable at 2–3 wt. % cellulose contents as identified from viscoelastic analysis, WRV and morphological analysis. LHCNFs also showed good thermal stability, which in summary presents a multifunctional high value cellulose nanomaterial that can find application in various fields.Graphic abstract
Highlights
The major source of cellulose for nanocellulose production is wood, amongst other sources such as plant biomass, bacteria, algae/macroalgae and tunicates
The cost of producing bacterial nanocellulose continues to be a challenge amidst many efforts made in this area, such as the combination of the static and agitated methods of production known as the Horizontal Lift Reactor (HoLiR) (Klemm et al 2018)
Cellulose nanofibrils from Laminaria hyperborea cellulose extract have been extensively characterised for surface properties, crystallinity indices, viscoelastic properties, water retention values, morphological properties, aspect ratios and thermal stability
Summary
The major source of cellulose for nanocellulose production is wood, amongst other sources such as plant biomass, bacteria, algae/macroalgae and tunicates. Variations in the crystallinity indices, viscoelastic properties, water retention values as a function of the number passes through the high-pressure homogeniser were studied. The viscoelastic properties, water retention values and morphological properties of LH cellulose processed at higher solid contents were studied.
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