Abstract

Uniformly-sized porous cellulose beads functionalized with amidoxime groups were prepared for the first time using a microfluidic method with N-methylmorpholine N-oxide (NMMO) monohydrate as a cellulose solvent. The molten state cellulose dope in NMMO monohydrate (cell/NMMO dope) as a disperse phase and hot mineral oil as a continuous phase were used in a T-junction microfluidic chip to produce uniformly-sized cell/NMMO droplets. Coagulation of the molten state cell/NMMO droplet at high temperature and amidoxime functionalization could prepare the highly-porous spherical amidoxime-functionalized cellulose beads with a uniform fibrous open internal structure. The prepared amidoxime-functionalized cellulose beads showed excellent metal adsorption properties with a maximum adsorption capacity of ~ 80 mg g−1 in the case of Cu2+/phthalate ions. The newly developed highly-porous cellulose beads can open many new applications with other proper functionalization at the reactive hydroxyl groups of the cellulose.Graphic abstract

Highlights

  • Cellulose, a linear polysaccharide, is the most abundant and renewable biopolymer in nature (Klemm et al 2011) and has been widely studied because of its unique properties, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, eco-friendliness, cost-effectiveness, and easy modification.This natural polymer cannot be melted and solubilized because of its strong intra- and interchain hydrogen bonding

  • To find the optimum Qd and Qc in microfluidics, the cellulose (4 wt%)/NMMO dope was evaluated at different Qd and Qc in the T-junction microfluidic chip

  • The production of the cell/NMMO droplet in the T-junction microfluidic chip in the ethylene glycol bath could not be monitored in situ through an optical microscope; the cellulose (M-M) bead’s shape after coagulation was examined as a model study

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Summary

Introduction

A linear polysaccharide, is the most abundant and renewable biopolymer in nature (Klemm et al 2011) and has been widely studied because of its unique properties, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, eco-friendliness, cost-effectiveness, and easy modification.This natural polymer cannot be melted (by heating) and solubilized (in common organic solvents) because of its strong intra- and interchain hydrogen bonding. The cellulose beads can be prepared by sequentially forming spherical cell/NMMO dope, solidification via temperature decrease, and coagulation with water (Gericke et al 2013).

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Conclusion

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