Cellulose Particles Research Articles

Preparations of Nano Cellulose Particles from Agricultural Wastes for Eco-Friendly Biodegradable Take Away Bowls for Food

Preparations of Nano Cellulose Particles from Agricultural Wastes for Eco-Friendly Biodegradable Take Away Bowls for Food

Optimized production and comparative analysis of microcrystalline cellulose particles from jute and viscose fiber wastes

Optimized production and comparative analysis of microcrystalline cellulose particles from jute and viscose fiber wastes

Bacterial Cellulose In Vitro Uptake by Macrophages, Epithelial Cells, and a Triculture Model of the Gastrointestinal Tract.

Bacterial cellulose (BC) has a long-standing human consumption history in different geographies without any report of adverse effects. Despite its unique textural and functional properties, the use of BC in food products in Europe is still restricted due to concerns over its nanosize. Here, we evaluated the potential uptake of celluloses (from plant and microbial sources, processed using different blenders) by macrophages (differentiated THP-1 cells) and human intestinal epithelial cells (Caco-2 and HT29-MTX cells) without (coculture) or with (triculture) Raji-B cells. A carbohydrate-binding module coupled to a green fluorescent protein was employed to observe cellulose in the cell cultures by confocal laser scanning microscopy and stimulated emission depletion microscopy. The methodology demonstrated excellent sensitivity, allowing detection of single nanocrystals within cells. All celluloses were taken up by the macrophages, without significantly compromising the cell's metabolic viability. The viability of the cocultures was also not affected. Furthermore, no internalization was observed in the triculture cell model that was exposed 24 h to BC and Avicel LM310. When (rarely) detected, cellulose particles were found on the apical side of the membrane. Overall, the obtained results suggest that BC should not be absorbed into the human gut.

Engineering Adhesion of the Probiotic Strain Escherichia coli Nissle to the Fungal Pathogen Candida albicans.

Engineering live biotherapeutic products against fungal pathogens such as Candida albicans has been suggested as a means to tackle the increasing threat of fungal infections and the development of resistance to classical antifungal treatments. One important challenge in the design of live therapeutics is to control their localization inside the human body. The specific binding capability to target organisms or tissues would greatly increase their effectiveness by increasing the local concentration of effector molecules at the site of infection. In this study, we utilized surface display of carbohydrate binding domains to enable the probiotic E. coli Nissle 1917 to adhere specifically to the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans. Binding was quantified using a newly developed method based on the automated analysis of microscopic images. In addition to a rationally selected chitin binding domain, a synthetic peptide of identical length but distinct sequence also conferred binding. Efficient binding was specific to fungal hyphae, the invasive form of C. albicans, while the yeast form, as well as abiotic cellulose and PET particles, was only weakly recognized.

Composite cellulose/bismuth/PVA nanocrystal for high-performance X-ray radiation shielding

The strong penetrating power of X-rays causes serious health problems. Longer exposure to radiation that penetrates normal cells can result in gene mutations, cancer, and even death. Protection against radiation exposure is necessary to prevent negative impacts from occurring. This research aims to make apron samples using a simple method based on cellulose as a matrix, bismuth as a filler with concentrations of 1 g, 0.75 g, 0.25 g and PVA acts as a binder that helps bind cellulose and bismuth particles into an effective X-ray radiation shield. The characterization carried out includes Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) to determine the functional groups and chemical composition of the sample, x-ray diffraction (XRD) to analyze the crystal size of the sample, and mobile x-ray with energies of 60, 70, and 80 keV to determine the radiation shielding performance. The findings of this study highlight that the optimal shielding properties were attained by employing a sample with the highest concentration of bismuth filler, specifically at 1 g. This material exhibits outstanding characteristics, including a high linear attenuation coefficient and mass attenuation coefficient of 0.68 cm−1 and 2.24 cm2/g respectively for an energy of 60 keV and especially low HVL (1.01 cm) and TVL (3.36 cm) values. These findings have significant implications for developing high-performance X-ray radiation shielding materials, particularly in industries where radiation exposure is a concern, such as the medical industry, research, and laboratories. The high tensile strength (2.83 N/mm2) and elongation (12.09 %) values as well as the low Young's modulus (0.108 N/mm2) values also indicate the flexibility of the resulting material, which could be beneficial for applications that require flexible shielding materials. The practicality of this research makes the audience feel that the findings are applicable and useful in real-world scenarios.

Invisible threat to mesopelagic fish: Microplastics and artificial cellulose particles in bigfin lanternfish Symbolophorus californiensis from the Northwest Pacific Ocean

Lanternfishes play an important role in connecting epipelagic and mesopelagic ecosystems. Due to their global distribution, diel vertical migration, and low trophic position, they may be highly susceptible to the ingestion of microplastics (MPs) and artificial cellulose particles (ACs). However, the role of lanternfishes in these emergent pollution research remains underestimated. In this study, we compared the abundance and characteristics of MPs and ACs in the stomach and intestine of bigfin lanternfish (Symbolophorus californiensis) from the Northwest Pacific Ocean. The results showed no difference in the abundance and size of MPs between the stomach (0.28 ± 0.63 items/individual, 103.72–2946.58 μm) and intestine (0.32 ± 0.56 items/individual, 122.03–4398.17 μm). The majority of MPs were fibrous in shape, with blue and transparent being the predominant colors. Polyester (28.2 %) and polyethylene terephthalate (20.5 %) were the most common polymer types. ACs were also primary in the shape of fiber (93.2 %), with transparent being the predominant color. The abundance of ACs in the intestine (0.49 ± 0.83 items/individual) was significantly higher than that in the stomach (0.18 ± 0.43 items/individual), while similar particle sizes were observed. This study provides an important baseline on lanternfishes contamination by MPs and ACs. Understanding this impact of mesopelagic fish is crucial for enhancing our comprehension of the vertical transfer mechanism of these pollutants between epipelagic and mesopelagic ecosystems.

Anchoring nanoscale zero-valent iron within bacterial cellulose particles for boosting efficient adsorption of Co(II) and Sr(II) from seawater: Dual system and varying adsorption mechanisms

Increasing attention has been paid to radioactive wastewater to direct discharge in Japan or accidental leaks. Strontium-90 (90Sr) and Cobalt-60 (60Co) are the most hazardous nuclides in waste discharged form nuclear reactors. Because of their high solubility and long half-lives, these radioisotopes can persist for hundreds of years before decaying to negligible levels. Herein, a green and biodegradable material nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) supported by bacterial cellulose particles (BCP-nZVI) is constructed for the first time to adsorb Co2+ and Sr2+ in single and binary systems. BCP-nZVI shows superior adsorption capacities of Co2+ and Sr2+in a single system within a wide range of pH values from 5 to7, while the coexistence of Co2+ adsorption inhibits the Sr2+ in binary system. Pseudo-second-order dynamics model and Langmuir isothermal model can be indicated the BCP-nZVI adsorption progress with 107.10 mg/g (Co2+) and 64.96 mg/g (Sr2+) maximum adsorption capacity. BCP-nZVI has outstanding stability, allowing it to be stored for more than one month with compromising its performance. More importantly, BCP-nZVI exhibits exceptional removal efficiency of Co2+(92.53%) and Sr2+(58.62%) removal in natural seawater systems. The mechanism investigation illustrates the high adsorption capacity of BCP-nZVI for Co2+ is controlled by redox and hydroxyl complexation. While Sr2+ is controlled by hydroxyl complexed adsorption, thus it has weak against interference by cations like Na+, Ca2+, etc. BCP-nZVI exhibits the advantages of high adsorption capacity, wide pH range, strong stability, and good applicability in natural seawater, which has excellent potential for application in radioactive ions removal.

The Development of Sustainable Polyoxymethylene (POM)-Based Composites by the Introduction of Natural Fillers and Melt Blending with Poly(lactic acid)-PLA

The conducted study was focused on the development of a new type of technical blend reinforced with natural fillers. The study was divided into two parts, where, in the first stage of the research, unmodified POM was reinforced with different types of natural fillers: cellulose, wood flour, and husk particles. In order to select the type of filler intended for further modification, the mechanical characteristics were assessed. The 20% wood flour (WF) filler system was selected as the reinforcement. The second stage of research involved the use of a combination of polyoxymethylene POM and poly(lactic acid) PLA. The POM/PLA blend (ratio 50/50%) was modified with an elastomeric compound (EBA) and chain extender as the compatibilized reactive (CE). The microscopic analysis revealed that for the POM/PLA system, the filler–matrix interface is characterized by better wettability, which might suggest higher adhesion. The mechanical performance revealed that for POM/PLA-based composites, the properties were very close to the results for POM-WF composites; however, there is still a significant difference in thermal resistance in favor of POM-based materials. The increase in thermomechanical properties for POM/PLA composites occurs after heat treatment. The increasing crystallinity of the PLA phase allows for a significant increase in the heat deflection temperature (HDT), even above 125 °C.

Prospects of mono cellulosic and cellulosic-glass hybrid fillers reinforced polypropylene composites

The objective of the study was to investigate the flexural mechanical, thermal and morphological properties of polypropylene composites reinforced with cellulose and glass particles. Polypropylene lacks sufficient strength and stiffness for many applications. By reinforcing it with cellulose and glass particles, the study was aimed at enhancing these mechanical properties, addressing the need for stronger and more durable materials. These composites are likely to find applications in the automotive industry where light weight, strong and heat resistant materials are needed for bumpers, dashboards, and interior trims. Additionally, these composites can be used for consumer goods where strong and lightweight materials are needed for various consumer products such as furniture, sporting goods, and appliances. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) was used to explore the properties of the cellulosic composites and the experimental method was used to validate the results of FEA. The injection moulding process was used to fabricate the specimens for this study. The specimens were then characterized for their thermal behavior, morphology, and flexural properties. The thermal properties that were performed were thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Moreover, the morphology of the fabricated samples was examined using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The composites were fabricated at filler volume fractions ranging from 0% to 50%. The flexural strength of both the wood powder/PP composites and the hybrid composites were found to be maximum for a filler volume fraction of 40% exhibiting 796.44 MPa and 1692.951 MPa, respectively. The research also noted from TGA that the melting temperature of all the fabricated samples were in the range of 150 °C to 160 °C. The glass transition temperature of neat polypropylene was around −20 °C.

Iron-carbon composite as flow electrode active material for highly efficient electrosorption of uranium from radioactive wastewater

A kind of iron-carbon composite for efficient electrosorption of uranium from radioactive wastewater was prepared by simply carbonization of cellulose and ferric nitrate, and the uranium electrosorption performance and behavior of the iron-carbon composite as flow electrode active material were investigated for low-concentration (below 50 mg/L) uranium-containing wastewater. By regulating the experimental conditions such as cellulose particle sizes, the mass ratio of cellulose/Fe(NO3)3, liquid flow rate, pH, and electric field strength, it was found that under the optimized conditions, the uranium removal ratios were 66.8, 81.92, 95.2, and 97.75 % for initial concentrations of 0.1, 0.5, 5.0, and 50.0 mg/L, respectively. The uranium concentration could be reduced from 0.1 mg/L to 0.0332 mg/L (the emission standard is 0.05 mg/L in China, GB 8798–1996) within 180 min of treatment. In addition, the material maintained an average salt removal rate of 26.27 μg cm−2 min−1 after 36 cycles of electrosorption. It achieved a uranium removal ratio of 87 %, and the upper limit of the electrosorption capacity was still not reached. Combined with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, the results indicated that the uranyl ion (UO22+) was firstly adsorbed on the surface of the active material after entering the flow electrode. Then, parts of the UO22+(Ⅵ) were reduced to uranium dioxide [UO2(Ⅳ)] under the synergistic action of zero-valent iron (ZVI) and cathodic electro-reduction and were finally immobilized on the electrode surface. This study proposed an innovative application of iron-carbon composite as flow electrode active material in FCDI for the treatment of uranium-containing wastewater with low-concentration (below 50 mg/L).

Study on the partial discharge characteristics induced by the motion of cellulose particles in transformer oil

AbstractCellulose particles present a significant concern within the oil‐paper insulation of transformers, posing potential risks to insulation performance. Under the influence of the electric field, the movement of cellulose particles can compromise the transformer's insulation, leading to potential failure. An experimental platform was established to synchronously record particle motion images, partial discharge (PD) pulses, and electric voltage waveforms in oil, aiming to observe the PD characteristics resulting from particle motion under alternating current (AC) voltage and investigate the relationship between different particle motion modes, motion positions, and PD signals. The findings reveal that the phase distribution of PD signals is correlated with the particle motion mode. Specifically, the phase distribution of PD pulses during the back‐and‐forth motion mode is between 4°–94° and 182°–275°. In the suspended oscillation motion mode, the PD pulses phase is concentrated between 20°–84° and 203°–268°. The generation of PD pulses is closely linked to the particle's motion position. PD pulses occur when the particle remains on the electrode during the back‐and‐forth motion mode, generally, PD pulses rarely occur during the jumping process between the two electrodes. In the suspended oscillation motion mode, PD pulses occur when the particle moves upward, but generally do not occur during downward movement. Furthermore, the Pulse Sequence Analysis technique was used to employ the PD characteristics caused by particle motion in transformer oil. The simulation calculations of the electric field distribution for two different particle motion modes show that the particle's motion can cause distortion of the electric field distribution, leading to the generation of PD. The study of the PD characteristics at different particle motion modes and positions obtained contributes to a deeper understanding of the PD induced by cellulose particle motion under AC voltage and provides a reference for the insulation evaluation of transformers.

Influence of the Flowing Speed of Transformer Oil Contaminated by Dry Cellulosic Particles on Its Breakdown Characteristics

Influence of the Flowing Speed of Transformer Oil Contaminated by Dry Cellulosic Particles on Its Breakdown Characteristics

Comprehensive characterization of microcrystalline cellulose from lemon grass (Cymbopogan citratus) oil extraction agro-industrial waste for cementitious composites applications

Presently, the construction industry demands components that are exceptionally strong and long-lasting. The initial important construction material is concrete, which contains between 1 % and 2 % of air voids. The structural damage caused by water that enters through the air spaces are improved with filler material. Chemical filler materials are environmentally harmful; therefore, eco-friendly materials are selected for this study. The environmentally benign character of agro-waste byproduct usage is a driving factor in the field of research. Numerous uses can be found for waste materials, especially after they have been repurposed. We used a byproduct of an essential oil extraction company, an extract made from the leaves of lemon grass (Cymbopogan citrus), in our research. Alkalization, slow pyrolysis, acid hydrolysis, and bleaching are only some of the chemical treatments that could be used to easily extract microcrystalline cellulose from the discarded waste material. In our study the chemicals used are mild harmful to the environment and a surface reactant (linear alkyl benzene sulfonic acid) is utilised to bleach and purify the microcrystalline cellulose. Thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and Fourier transform spectroscopy were all used to learn more about the cellulose that had been extracted. The extracted cellulose powder comprises a high crystallinity index (68.14 %) and low crystallite size (5.13 nm) found using X-ray diffraction analysis. The smooth and porous surface is observable in scanning electron microscope analysis. The Differential scanning calorimeter curve shows the highest degradation temperature at 218.16 °C. The micro sized particles mostly range between 100 and 120 μm and are found using ImageJ. The surface roughness and permissible skewness of cellulose particles were examined using atomic force microscopy. The density of extracted cellulose is 1.092 g/cm3. The microcrystalline cellulose yield % was notably maximum (40.45 %). This cellulose was introduced in a M30 grade cement concrete as fillers up to 5 % by the weight of cement. The fresh and mechanical properties of the concrete was found to get improved with the addition of cellulose up to 3 %. As a result, the characteristics of cellulose boost its utility within the construction sector.

Extraction and Characterization of Cellulose from Coffee Husk and Brewery’s Spent Grain Fibers Using Alkali-Hydrogen Peroxide Treatment Method

Coffee husk (CH) and brewery spent grain (BSG) fibers are sustainable industrial residues that consist of cellulose. The present study aimed at the extraction of cellulose from CH and BSG fibers and to study the effect of alkali-hydrogen peroxide (5% NaOH–7% H2O2) treatment during the extraction by characterizing the extracted cellulose. Characterization of cellulose particles, such as crystallinity, functional groups, thermal properties, and morphology, was conducted by performing X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The finding shows that the maximum cellulose yields obtained from CH and BSG fibers are 37.3% and 26.5%, respectively. From the XRD results, the cellulose obtained from CH fiber (C-CH) and from BSG fiber (C-BSG) showed diffractive peaks with the highest intensity of approximately 1,003 and 1,236 counted at 2θ = 22°, respectively. A reduction in the absorption of peaks was observed on the FTIR spectrum for both C-BSG and C-CH samples at different wavelengths. SEM demonstrated that the surface roughness of the celluloses was enhanced. TGA showed that the maximum temperature decomposition observed for both C-CH and C-BSG is 360°C and 380°C, respectively. Generally, in this study, alkali-hydrogen peroxide (5% NaOH–7% H2O2) treatment was effectively used for the treatment of BSG and CH fibers for the extraction and surface modification of cellulose particles. The extracted cellulose in the present study can be used as an alternative to conventional cellulose for the manufacturing of biocomposite materials, preparation of particle boards and furniture, and production of food packaging materials.

The impact of sinkers on coning issues exhibited by tablets in USP2 dissolution apparatus

The objective of this research is to explore the impact of sinkers on the dissolution rate of tablets exhibiting coning in paddle dissolution tests. The ICH M9 guideline refers to the use of sinkers to mitigate coning issues. However, the effectiveness of sinkers on coning phenomena has not been comprehensively investigated. Therefore, this study evaluated whether applying sinkers of different shapes could alleviate coning problems. The dissolution profiles of amlodipine tablet formulations which had been clinically demonstrated to be bioequivalent were assessed in a USP2 Apparatus with and without sinkers. Moreover, the effects of artificially induced coning formed by adding cellulose particles of various sizes on dissolution profiles, and the impacts of sinkers on the dissolution delay caused by the cellulose particles were investigated. Our study suggested that the CLIPS sinker was effective in obtaining in vivo relevant dissolution profiles by facilitating the dispersion of coning. The effect of sinkers varied depending on their shapes and the characteristics of the particles that constituted the coning. These findings enhance our understanding of the effectiveness of sinkers in addressing coning issues and aid in predicting the in vivo dissolution performance of tablet formulations that exhibit coning during dissolution testing.

Microplastics and non-natural cellulosic particles in Spanish bottled drinking water

This investigation explored the presence of microplastics (MPs) and artificial cellulosic particles (ACPs) in commercial water marketed in single use 1.5 L poly(ethylene terephthalate) bottles. In this work we determined a mass concentration of 1.61 (1.10–2.88) µg/L and 1.04 (0.43–1.82) µg/L for MPs and ACPs respectively in five top-selling brands from the Spanish bottled water market. Most MPs consisted of white and transparent polyester and polyethylene particles, while most ACPs were cellulosic fibers likely originating from textiles. The median size of MPs and ACPs was 93 µm (interquartile range 76–130 µm) and 77 µm (interquartile range 60–96 µm), respectively. Particle mass size distributions were fitted to a logistic function, enabling comparisons with other studies. The estimated daily intake of MPs due to the consumption of bottled water falls within the 4–18 ng kg−1 day−1 range, meaning that exposure to plastics through bottled water probably represents a negligible risk to human health. However, it's worth noting that the concentration of plastic found was much higher than that recorded for tap water, which supports the argument in favour of municipal drinking water.

Ecotoxicological Assessment of Microplastics and Cellulose Particles in the Galápagos Islands and Galápagos Penguin Food Web.

Microplastic pollution threatens some of the world's most iconic locations for marine biodiversity, including the remote Galápagos Islands, Ecuador. Using the Galápagos penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus) as a sentinel species, the present study assessed microplastics and suspected anthropogenic cellulose concentrations in surface seawater and zooplankton near Santa Cruz and Galápagos penguin colonies (Floreana, Isabela, Santiago), as well as in penguin potential prey (anchovies, mullets, milkfish) and penguin scat. On average, 0.40 ± 0.32 microplastics L-1 were found in surface seawater (<10 μm; n = 63 L), while 0.003, 0.27, and 5.12 microplastics individual-1 were found in zooplankton (n = 3372), anchovies (n = 11), and mullets (n = 6), respectively. The highest concentration (27 microplastics individual-1) was observed in a single milkfish. Calculations based on microplastics per gram of prey, in a potential diet composition scenario, suggest that the Galápagos penguin may consume 2881 to 9602 microplastics daily from prey. Despite this, no microplastics or cellulose were identified in 3.40 g of guano collected from two penguins. Our study confirms microplastic exposure in the pelagic food web and endangered penguin species within the UNESCO World Heritage site Galápagos Islands, which can be used to inform regional and international policies to mitigate plastic pollution and conserve biodiversity in the global ocean. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1442-1457. © 2024 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

Effect of microcrystalline cellulose on mechanical properties of flax-jute-epoxy hybrid composite materials using vacuum bagging

Nowadays, synthetic fibres are replaced with hybrid composite fibres which consist of low energy production, biodegradability, resource renewability, less hazardous and easy handling of manufactured composites. The present work focuses on the effect of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) particles by varying the percentage concentration (0 wt %, 2 wt % and 4 wt %) in the flax-jute-epoxy composite materials. The MCC particle is mixed with epoxy resin as matrix material and flax-jute fibres as reinforcements in the composite panels fabricated using the vacuum bagging method. The tensile, flexural, impact, hardness and thermogravimetric tests were performed on the fabricated composite panels per the ASTM standard. The experimental results show that with the addition of 2 wt % MCC particle, sample 2 has higher tensile strength, flexural strength and impact strength than sample 1 (0 wt % MCC) and sample 3 (4 wt % MCC). It can be noted that due to the addition of MCC particles, overall mechanical properties improved as a result of good interfacial bonding between matrix and fibres which are evident through SEM analysis. Similarly, thermal stability of the composites also improved in the flax-jute hybrid fibre composites particularly in 2 wt % MCC.

Fusion of cellulose microspheres with pulp fibers: Creating an unconventional type of paper

Cellulose microspheres (CMS) are a type of spherical regenerated cellulose particles with versatile properties which have been used as carrier materials in medical and technical applications. The integration of CMS into paper products opens up novel application scenarios for paper products in a wide range of fields. However, the incorporation of CMS carriers into paper products is challenging and hitherto no reports do exist in literature. Here, we present a feasibility study to incorporate up to 50 w.% CMS in paper hand sheets using retention aids. Our primary observations highlight the successful formation of uniform paper hand sheets retaining its tensile strengths at elevated CMS concentrations. Sheets with high CMS contents exhibit an increase in density and display enhanced surface smoothness — an outcome of a CMS layer forming atop the fiber base — which effectively bridges voids and rectifies surface irregularities as supported by Gurley testing, infinite focus microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. While our primary objective centered on the general feasibility to manufacture CMS-containing papers, the resulting composite scaffold carries significant potential as a platform for innovative, functional paper-based materials.

Radical electron-induced cellulose-semiconductors

Bio-semiconductors are expected to be similar to organic semiconductors; however, they have not been utilized in application yet. In this study, we show the origin of electron appearance, N- and S-type negative resistances, rectification, and switching effects of semiconductors with energy storage capacities of up to 418.5 mJ/m2 using granulated amorphous kenaf cellulose particles (AKCPs). The radical electrons in AKCP at 295 K appear in cellulose via the glycosidic bond C1–O1·–C4. Hall effect measurements indicate an n–type semiconductor with a carrier concentration of 9.89 × 1015/cm3, which corresponds to a mobility of 10.66 cm2/Vs and an electric resistivity of 9.80 × 102 Ωcm at 298 K. The conduction mechanism in the kenaf tissue was modelled from AC impedance curves. The light and flexible cellulose-semiconductors may open up new avenues in soft electronics such as switching effect devices and bio-sensors, primarily because they are composed of renewable natural compounds.