Natural Cellulose Research Articles

Experimental Characterization of Banana-Palm Fiber Reinforced Hybrid Polymer Composite

Composite materials are synthesized by using natural cellulose fibers with matrix, due to their improved properties. In this work, banana and palm fibers are treated with 2% and 8% NaoH, respectively, for the removal of lignin and hemicelluloses. The hybrid composite was fabricated by using epoxy resin as the matrix and both the fibers as reinforcement through the hand lay-up method. By varying the banana and palm fibers in the range of 5-15% wt. and 7.5-22.5% wt. in the composite of 20% wt. and 30% wt. reinforcement, respectively, The composite consists of 5/15% wt. treated fibers, having more influence on compressive strength of 222.46 MPa and flexural strength of 535 MPa. However, 7.5/22.5% wt. treated composite has a higher impact resistance of 14.6 J and 10/10% treated composite gained a higher water absorption percentage weight of 1.16% at 216 hours. From the experiment, the composite with 5/15% wt. fibers of 20% wt. reinforcement and 80% wt. epoxy is suitable for making kitchen slabs.

Functional Nanocellulose Derivatives for Global Environmental Solutions

Nanocellulose, a sustainable and biodegradable material derived from natural cellulose, holds immense potential for addressing global environmental challenges. This article reviews the production methods, structural modifications, and applications of nanocellulose derivatives in environmental contexts, emphasizing their role in water purification, pollutant adsorption, and renewable energy solutions. The systematic literature review highlights the unique properties of nanocellulose, such as high mechanical strength, large specific surface area, and tunable chemical functionalities, which enable its use in various industrial, biomedical, and environmental applications. Results indicate that nanocellulose-based materials outperform conventional materials in efficiency and sustainability, particularly in water treatment and biodegradable packaging. Despite its advantages, challenges remain, including production costs, dispersibility in polymer matrices, and stability under high humidity. These limitations necessitate further research and collaborative innovation to enhance its applicability and affordability.

Bio‐Mass Radiative Cooling Materials: Progress and Prospects

AbstractRadiative cooling (RC) is a passive cooling technology that leverages infrared radiation to reduce temperatures without external energy input, presenting a crucial approach to mitigating global warming and lowering energy consumption. Biomass‐based RC materials, known for their environmental sustainability and abundance, offer a promising alternative for RC applications. This review outlines the fundamental principles of radiative cooling and examines recent advancements in biomass‐based RC materials, such as natural wood, cellulose, chitosan, silk, and bioplastics. Furthermore, it highlights key challenges and explores future development prospects in this field.

Natural cellulose fibers (Agave Americana L. ASPARAGACEAE) impregnated with magnetite nanoparticles as a novel adsorbent of mercury (Hg) in aqueous solutions

Natural cellulose fibers (Agave Americana L. ASPARAGACEAE) impregnated with magnetite nanoparticles as a novel adsorbent of mercury (Hg) in aqueous solutions

Native and cationic cellulose nanofibril films enriched with avocado seed compounds as a green alternative for potential wound care applications

Cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) show great potential for skin wound care and healing due to their biocompatibility, non-cytotoxicity, and high swelling with good mechanical stability. In the presented study, for the first time native and cationized cellulose nanofibrils were used in combination with avocado seeds extracts obtained with different extraction methods (ASE), as an alternative to a well-known antibiotic, Clindamycin, to produce films with high and long-lasting antimicrobial efficacy. The swelling capacity of prepared films and extracts/antibiotic release kinetics were studied at different pH values to evaluate pH response behavior.All developed films exhibited high bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity against Gram-negative Escherichia coli and G-positive Staphylococcus aureus, resulting in up to 100 % bacterial reduction with the log reduction factor up to 5.64 or 6.50, at 14.2 mg of avocado seed extract or clindamycin integrated in the 1 cm2 of CNF film. The high swelling capacity (up to 65.67 %) and stability of avocado seed extracts-enriched CNF films provide a suitable moisture environment and a sustainable release (up to 40.98 % in 48 h) of bioactive compounds. The prepared antibacterial films' chemical and morphological characteristics and pH-responsive behavior proved the potential applications in the cosmetics, biomedicine, and pharmaceutical industry.

Fabrication of multilayer cellulose filters isolated from natural biomass for highly efficient air filtration for replacement of synthetic HEPA filters

Indoor air pollution can be extensively reduced by using a molecular air filtration system. However, widely utilized synthetic polymer-based filtration medium can lead to waste management difficulty after use. Consequently, this work aimed to synthesize highly efficient air nano-filters derived from renewable and biodegradable resources namely EFB and Pulp. The study successfully presented an air filter from 100% natural cellulose using a facile physical multilayer filter fabrication method. A combination of chemical and mechanical treatment was applied to prepare nanocellulose. The chemical composition analysis showed that 66-67% nanocellulose yield was efficiently isolated from both raw materials. The highest particle filtration efficiency (PFE) of 97.30% (0.3 μm particle size) greater than that of commercial HEPA filters was achieved from multilayer acid-derived microfiber@mechanically treated nanofibers from EFB with low-pressure drop of 11.56mm H2O. When %PFE and pressure drop were taken into consideration, all single-layer and multilayer-patterned fiber filters in this study provided high quality factor (QF) beyond 0.01Pa−1 which is the target of the air filter. The findings revealed that the pattern-layer filters through TBA-induced freezing-drying technique could achieve the removal of microbial model and Particulate Matters (PM1.0) represented as 0.1 and 0.3 μm particles, at the very low-pressure drop. Therefore, this study not only enhances the value of natural lignocellulosic wastes but also presents inspiring concepts for creating biodegradable cellulose-based air filters that will pave the way to more eco-friendliness and sustainability for synthetic filter replacement.

“Three birds with one stone” strategy for building easily reprocessable cellulosic thermosetting resins

Cellulose is the most abundant natural polypolysaccharide and is an ideal raw material to replace petroleum-based plastics. However, natural cellulose is difficult to be thermo-processed like conventional plastics because of the rich and strong hydrogen bonds interactions. In this study, a series of dialdehyde derivatives of cellulose (DACs) were prepared by periodate oxidation of cellulose, and cellulose covalent adaptive networks based on acetal dynamic covalent bonds (ACCs) were prepared using dipentaerythritol as a crosslinker for DAC. This strategy can introduce acetal bonds, weaken hydrogen bonds, and reduce rigidity to kill three birds with one stone. The excellent reprocessing performance of ACCs is attributed to the reconstruction of the cellulose hydrogen bond network by acetal bonds, and the reversible exchange reaction of the acetal bonds at high temperatures endows the cellulose chains with mobility, allowing ACCs to be remodeled by hot pressing at 90°C for 15 min. The excellent stability and reprocessability of ACCs hold the promise of replacing current non-renewable petroleum-based plastics and provide inspiration for the development of other types of biomass plastics.

Experimental Investigation of the Mechanical Properties of Concrete Reinforced with Natural Cellulose Fibers

Experimental Investigation of the Mechanical Properties of Concrete Reinforced with Natural Cellulose Fibers

Polysaccharide-Based Fat Replacers in the Functional Food Products

The functional properties of food products, in addition to enrichment with functional components, can also be achieved by reducing the content of certain components such as sugars and fats, that is, by reducing the energy content of the product. Thus, the development of functional food products is aimed at various low-energy products, especially products with a reduced fat content, which normally represent the most concentrated source of energy. Fat replacers should simulate the functional properties of the fat. Polysaccharide-based fat replacers include a variety of native starches, modified starches, maltodextrins, cellulose and cellulose derivatives, polydextrose, inulin, pectin, other dietary fibers, and hydrocolloids. Technological properties required for the application of carbohydrate-based fat replacers are water-holding capacity, a certain level of viscosity, required form and particle size, three-dimensional networking and gel-forming ability, sensory abilities such as spreadability, softness, greasiness feeling in the mouth, and other fat-like properties. These fat replacers are usually applied in combinations with the aim of achieving all desired properties normally provided by fats in foods. In the contemporary literature, there are many examples of their application in different food products, including baked goods, meats, dairy products, and emulsion food systems, successfully reducing the fat content with or without minor alterations in the rheology or sensory features of food products. In summary, polysaccharides-based fat replacers offer an effective method for fat reduction in different food products along with enhancing the health benefits of reduced-fat foods.

Conformational Chirality of Single-Crystal Covalent Organic Frameworks.

The crystallization of organic polymers is often hindered by chiral units, hence resulting in chiral organic polymers typically existing as amorphous or partially crystalline phases such as natural rubber and cellulose. Similarly, as an emerging crystalline chiral polymer, chiral covalent organic frameworks (COFs) also inevitably face a delicate balance between chiral units and crystallization, limiting their production and applications in separation, catalysis, and optics. Here, we present a general strategy for producing a series of conformational chiral COFs with high crystallinity through breaking the meso conformation of achiral COFs. Conformational chirality of COF-300 was constructed by involving chiral amino-acid derivative templates during synthesis and was proven to have excellent thermodynamic (200 °C annealing in air) and dynamic stability (61% cell volume change). The stereochemistry of the conformational chiral crystals can be controllably tuned by chiral templates, resulting in wide-range circular dichroism signals from ultraviolet to infrared wavelengths and absorption dissymmetry factors (gabs) varying by up to 300%, with a maximum of gabs = 0.012. This strategy paves the way for stereochemistry modification, property enhancement, and exploration of new applications of crystalline chiral materials.

Robust Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose-Based Neuromorphic Device with High Biocompatibility Engineered through Molecular Polarization for the Emulation of Learning Behaviors in the Human Brain.

Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-Na), derived from natural cellulose and frequently employed as a biocompatible coating, thus renders it an ideal component for the construction of highly biocompatible neuromorphic devices aimed at biomachine interfaces. Here, an array of Mo/CMC-Na/ITO neuromorphic devices is fabricated, with CMC-Na serving as the functional layer. The devices exhibit capabilities to emulate various synaptic learning rules and demonstrate high endurance performance among biomaterial-based electronics, achieving stability over 2 × 104 pulses. Then, simulations of human brain-inspired learning and forgetting paradigms are conducted, highlighting the versatility of the device array in mimicking learning processes. Applications in pattern recognition leverage "learning-forgetting" paradigms, showcasing the potential of the device in cognitive tasks. Electrical measurements elucidate the mechanism of molecular polarization rotation, which offers insights into the modulation of synaptic weights within biocompatible biomaterial-based devices. Furthermore, the biocompatible properties of the devices are evaluated using human embryonic kidney 293 cells, confirming their excellent biocompatibility. The biodegradability of the devices is assessed by using physical transient tests to evaluate their sustainability in biomedical applications. Such advances represent pivotal improvements in implantable bioinspired electronics and show potential in biomachine interface and cognitive computing applications.

Aqu‐Thermoplastics: Recycling Plastics with Water

AbstractRecycling of real waste plastics with diverse composition is extremely difficult. Herein, an eco‐friendly and easy‐to‐operate strategy is demonstrated to facilitate the recycling of plastic composites and mixtures by using only water. An aqu‐thermoplastic bioplastic (CPp‐TA) is constructed with switchable water solubility and excellent thermoplastic property from natural cellulose. CPp‐TA consisted of the cellulose main chain (C) and two functional groups, internal‐plasticizing group (Pp) and switchable group (TA). It not only has outstanding thermo‐plastic formability, water resistance, and mechanical property to satisfy the daily needs, but also can be easily recycled with water by switching to the water‐soluble state. CPp‐TA can processed into various high‐performance plastic parts, fibers, heat‐sealing packaging, transparent cups, paper‐plastic composites, and aluminum‐plastic composites by conventional thermoplastic processing methods. The obtained CPp‐TA/Al/paper composite exhibits better barrier performance than the famous Tetra Pak with a complex recycling process, and can be easily separated into CPp‐TA, Al foil, and paper by using basic aqueous solution to trigger the water solubility of CPp‐TA. Similarly, CPp‐TA can be effectively separated from plastic mixtures. The recovery yield achieves to 100%. The revolutionary aqu‐thermoplastic materials and water‐recycling strategy markedly reduce the recycling difficulty of intricate plastics and promote the sustainable development.

Biomass‐based crosslinked composite anion exchange membranes using bacterial cellulose template towards enhanced ionic conductivity and alkaline stability

AbstractA balanced relationship among ionic conductivity, mechanical properties and alkaline stability of anion exchange membranes (AEMs) is essential for their practical application in fuel cells. Herein, a porous substrate (BC@LDH) with hierarchical structure was constructed using natural bacterial cellulose (BC) as a template and then in situ grew inorganic hydroxide ion conductor (layered double hydroxide, LDH). The membrane was fabricated via a filling together with sol–gel crosslinking strategy after impregnating an ionomer containing both quaternary ammonium and hydroxyl groups into the porous substrate and then crosslinked by organosiloxane. Due to the synergistic enhancement effect of BC, LDH and cross‐linking, the obtained membrane exhibited a tensile strength of 47.48 MPa that was 88.3% higher than that of the pure ionomer membrane, and showed an ionic conductivity of 70.7 mS cm−1 (80°C) which benefited from the introduction of ionic conductor LDH. More importantly, its alkaline stability was significantly improved and the residual conductivity ratio was still as high as 81.5% even after hot alkali treatment for 580 h. The direct methanol fuel cell assembled with this membrane exhibited a peak power density of 13.6 mW cm−2 with an open‐circuit voltage of 0.72 V, indicating its potential application in biomass‐based AEMs for fuel cells.Highlights Hierarchical porous substrate comprising LDHs anchored BC fiber was prepared. LDH@BC served as a reinforcing substrate and an ion transport medium. The crosslinked membrane showed significantly improved alkaline stability. The membrane had high ionic conductivity and mechanical strength. Providing a new way to design biomass‐based AEMs with high performance.

Preparation and Characterization of Temperature-Sensitive Gel Plugging Agent.

In order to use intelligent gel systems to realize deep source water control in medium and high water cut reservoirs, and also to solve the shortcomings of conventional gels, such as the high chemical dose required, large profile control radius, poor temperature resistance, shear resistance, and plugging performance, a temperature-sensitive gel based on natural cellulose was developed, and the temperature resistance, rheological performance, and plugging performance of the temperature-sensitive gel were tested and evaluated. The results show that the system can maintain a viscosity retention rate of up to 95% after high-temperature aging at 90-120 °C for 50 days. When using medium- to low-salinity calcium chloride formation water for preparation, the gelation effect is good. The rheometer oscillation frequency scanning test shows that the system gel is a strong elastic body dominated by elasticity. The core displacement experiment shows that the highest sealing rate of the system is 97%, and the breakthrough pressure can reach 2.5 MPa at this time. The microstructure of the gel system was tested by infrared, and it was found that the gel system had strong hydrogen bonding and the gel had good stability. The research results contribute to improving the recovery rate of high water cut oil reservoirs.

Natural helical carboxymethyl cellulose fibers-based actuator for smart controller applications

Water-responsive polymers have received great attention in the field of smart actuators due to their mechanical response to humidity without energy consumption. Natural polymers-based actuators are competitive because of their green, sustainable, and biocompatible characteristics. In this paper, we report a natural twisting carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) fiber-based actuator (TCFA) with remarkable performance under water and moist stimulation. The water-responsive CMC fibers were prepared using wet spinning and twisting. Owing to the helical structure, good water absorption, and swelling performance, the CMC fiber exhibits excellent rotational motion with a rotation speed of 4615 rpm and recovery speed of 1538.4 rpm under water stimulation. In addition, the actuator revolutions remained almost constant after more than 254 cycles, thus demonstrating the excellent cyclic stability of this untwisting recovery process. Moreover, the CMC fiber shows application in a smart rainy curtain, smart crane, and concentration detection for alcohol solution. We offer an easy and scalable method to obtain a CMC fiber-based actuator with low cost, sustainability as well as excellent driving performance. Our work inspires a new idea in the design of cellulose-derived actuators and their application in future intelligent systems.

Polylactide Composites Reinforced with Pre-Impregnated Natural Fibre and Continuous Cellulose Yarns for 3D Printing Applications.

Achieving high-performance 3D printing composite filaments requires addressing challenges related to fibre wetting and uniform fibre/polymer distribution. This study evaluates the effectiveness of solution (solvent-based) and emulsion (water-based) impregnation techniques to enhance fibre wetting in bleached flax yarns by polylactide (PLA). For the first time, continuous viscose yarn composites were also produced using both impregnation techniques. All the composites were carefully characterised throughout each stage of production. Initially, single yarns were impregnated and consolidated to optimise formulations and processing parameters. Solution impregnation resulted in the highest tensile strength (356 MPa) for PLA/bleached flax filaments, while emulsion impregnation yielded the highest tensile strength for PLA/viscose filaments (255 MPa) due to better fibre wetting and fibre distribution. Impregnated single yarns were then combined, with additional polymer added to produce filaments compatible with standard material extrusion 3D printers. Despite a reduction in the mechanical performance of the 3D-printed composites due to additional polymer impregnation, relatively high tensile and bending strengths were achieved, and the Charpy impact strength (>127 kJ/m2) for the viscose-based composite exceeded the reported values for bio-derived fibre reinforced composites. The robust mechanical performance of these filaments offers new opportunities for the large-scale additive manufacturing of structural components from bio-derived and renewable resources.

Comparative Analysis of Mechanical and Morphological Properties of Cordenka and Ramie Fiber-Reinforced Polypropylene Composites.

The depletion of conventional materials and their adverse environmental impacts have prompted a shift toward sustainable alternatives in composite materials engineering. In pursuit of this objective, this study investigated the mechanical properties of polypropylene matrix composites reinforced with Cordenka, an artificial cellulose fiber, and compared them to those reinforced with ramie, a natural cellulose fiber. Continuous strand composites were developed using the Multi-Pin-assisted Resin Infiltration (M-PaRI) process. The strands were subsequently sectioned into 15 mm lengths and injection-molded into dumbbell and strip specimens for mechanical characterization. The results showed that 20 wt% Cordenka/PP composites exhibited a tensile strength of 68.7 MPa, 2.04 times higher than neat PP and 1.66 times greater than the 20 wt% ramie/PP composites. Impact testing further demonstrated that Cordenka/PP composites absorbed 2 to 2.5 times more impact energy than ramie/PP composites, regardless of the presence of notches. Fiber length analysis indicated that Cordenka fibers maintained their length beyond the critical fiber length, allowing for efficient stress transfer and acting as a more effective reinforcement compared to ramie fibers, which were below this threshold. Consequently, the Cordenka/PP composites exhibited significantly enhanced mechanical performance. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed fewer fiber pullouts in ramie-reinforced composites, suggesting superior interfacial adhesion to the PP matrix, although it did not translate to higher mechanical properties. These findings underscore the potential of Cordenka as a sustainable alternative to synthetic, non-biodegradable fibers in PP composites, providing improved mechanical properties and promising prospects for advanced composite applications.

Construction and 3D Printing of Multiscale Silk Fiber‐Cellulose Composite Networks Based on Ionic Liquids

AbstractMicroscopic defects in the amorphous regions of natural cellulose affect the mechanical properties of their materials. After dissolution and regeneration, cellulose's mechanical properties are still insufficient for application in advanced materials. Conventional compounding and crosslinking techniques with toxic crosslinking agents are not only cumbersome, but also have limited performance enhancement in cellulose materials Therefore, much attention has been paid to designing and developing more straightforward and efficient cellulose reinforcement technologies. Herein, an in situ multiscalarization strategy is used to form multiscale silk fiber‐cellulose composites (MS‐C) by the gradual nanosizing of silk fibers (SF) under heating in a 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride solution of cellulose (Cel‐BmimCl). MS‐C are constructed from micro and nano SF, fibroin chains, and cellulose molecules into a multidimensional network. Due to its advantage of multiscale structure, MS‐C has excellent mechanical properties, the tensile strength and Young's modulus, which are 123.06% and 91.68% higher than that of pure regenerated cellulose after 5h heating treatment. Besides, MS‐C has good biocompatibility and can be molded or 3D printed with direct ink writing, showing broad application prospects in medical, bioengineering, and other fields. This multiscale enhancement strategy can also be extended to the research and application of biopolymers such as natural polysaccharides or proteins.

Natural cellulose reinforced multifunctional eutectogels for wearable sensors and epidermal electrodes

Wearable electronics significantly impact health monitoring, clinical care, and human-machine interfaces. Eutectogels, which utilize deep eutectic solvents (DES) address the drawbacks of hydrogels, such as weight loss and poor temperature tolerance, as well as the high costs and toxicities associated with ionogels. Despite these advances, most eutectogels serve only as sensors or epidermal electrodes and rarely fulfill both functions simultaneously. In this study, we present a multifunctional eutectogel designed to function in both ways. Incorporating natural cotton cellulose nanofibers as nanofillers reinforced the tensile strength of the resultant eutectogel by 7.47 times compared to that of the pure eutectogel, reaching 4.93 MPa. This eutectogel exhibited high ionic conductivity (1.22 S m−1), strong adhesion (1562.2 kPa to iron), self-healing ability (80.37% strain recovery and 80.53% tensile strength recovery), a broad temperature tolerance (−40 to 80 °C), and antibacterial properties. It demonstrates high sensitivity for the real-time strain detection of human activities and accurately captures electrophysiological signals, enabling the control of a small car. This versatile eutectogel has excellent potential for use in flexible wearable electronics.

Investigating the Routes to Produce Cellulose Fibers from Agro-Waste: An Upcycling Process

The agriculture and agri-food sectors produce substantial amounts of plant-based waste. This waste presents an identifiable research opportunity to develop methods for effectively eliminating and managing it in order to promote zero-waste and circular economies. Plant-based waste and by-products are acknowledged as valuable sources of bioactive compounds, including cellulose fibers. Direct application of these fibers in non-food sectors such as textiles can reduce the environmental impact of secondary raw materials. This review aims to provide an overview of novel concepts and modern technologies for efficiently utilizing plant-based waste and by-products from the agricultural and agro-industrial sectors to extract fibers for a variety of final applications, including the fashion industry. Two major routes are identified to produce cellulose fibers: the extraction and purification of natural cellulose fibers and the extraction and purification of cellulose pulp that is further processed into manmade cellulosic fibers. Scalability of experimental results at the laboratory or pilot level is a major barrier, so it is critical to develop closed-loop processes, apply standardization protocols, and conduct life cycle assessments and techno-economic analyses to facilitate large-scale implementation.