Cellulose Particles Research Articles

Biodegradable Polyethylene-Based Composites Filled with Cellulose Micro- and Nanoparticles

Composite materials filled with cellulose particles (microcrystalline cellulose and nanocellulose) have good prospects for use in various fields. Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and nanocellulose (NC) were isolated by chemical and physical methods and investigated. Composite materials based on polyethylene (PE) were obtained using MCC and NC as fillers (5–20 wt.%) and maleic anhydride grafted low molecular weight polyethylene (MA-g-LMPE) as a compatibilizer. The structure and morphology of the composites and fillers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis (TA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and the strength properties were determined by tensile testing. An increase in the crystallinity index and mechanical strength of composites at low filler contents (up to 5 wt.%) was revealed. The size of the cellulose particles significantly affects the structure and properties of composites. Although the general picture of the effect of fillers on the crystalline structure and mechanical properties is similar, the addition of NC had a greater effect than МСС. The results of this study showed the possibility of using MCC and NC as reinforcement materials in composites, and they have biodegradable properties.

On the stabilization of emulsions by cellulose nanocrystals and nanofibrils: Interfacial behavior and synergism

Competitive adsorption of cellulose nanofibers at oil-water interface in Pickering emulsion is reported here. Dodecane-in-water emulsions stabilized by either of two types of nanocelluloses, cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) or cellulose nanofibrils (CNF), as well as by their binary mixtures with increasing fractions of CNC, were prepared using particle concentrations of 0.1–0.5 wt% and studied. Despite differences in shape and morphology, both forms of nanofibers produced stable emulsion droplets even at low particle concentrations (0.1 wt%), with CNC producing smaller droplets and emulsions with higher stability. When mixed, an increased fraction of CNC in the mixture reduced the average droplet size, which however applied only for higher contents of oil (30 and 50 wt%) and higher total contents of cellulose particles used under emulsification. The CNC particles controlled the size of emulsion droplets, while the role of CNF contributed to the further surface coverage. When the fraction of CNF in the mixture increased, the capability of CNC particles to readily adsorb at the oil-water interface was reduced by the CNF nanofibrils present in aqueous phase. The stability of emulsions with respect to changes in droplet size and creaming index was influenced more by oil content and total particle concentration than by the fraction of CNC present in the mixture.

Preparation of hyaluronan oligosaccharides by a prokaryotic beta-glucuronidase: Characterization of free and immobilized forms of the enzyme

Popularity of hyaluronan (HA) in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries, led to the investigation and development of new HA-based materials, with enzymes playing a key role. Beta-D-glucuronidases catalyze the hydrolysis of a beta-D-glucuronic acid residue from the non-reducing end of various substrates. However, lack of specificity towards HA for most beta-D-glucuronidases, in addition to the high cost and low purity of those active on HA, have prevented their widespread application. In this study, we investigated a recombinant beta-glucuronidase from Bacteroides fragilis (rBfGUS). We demonstrated the rBfGUS's activity on native, modified, and derivatized HA oligosaccharides (oHAs). Using chromogenic beta-glucuronidase substrate and oHAs, we characterized the enzyme's optimal conditions and kinetic parameters. Additionally, we evaluated rBfGUS's activity towards oHAs of various sizes and types. To increase reusability and ensure the preparation of enzyme-free oHA products, rBfGUS was immobilized on two types of magnetic macroporous bead cellulose particles. Both immobilized forms of rBfGUS demonstrated suitable operational and storage stabilities, and their activity parameters were comparable to the free form. Our findings suggest that native and derivatized oHAs can be prepared using this bacterial beta-glucuronidase, and a novel biocatalyst with enhanced operational parameters has been developed with a potential for industrial use.

Bridging Characteristics of Cellulosic Particles in Flowing Transformer Oil

The flow of contaminated transformer oil has a significant influence on the formation of bridges composed of impurity particles and in turn affects its breakdown progress, but the relevant phenomenon may be not well interpreted by the classical suspended solid particle mechanism. In this paper, an oil circulation device was built, and the development of cellulosic bridges in slightly non-uniform electric field at different flow velocities was recorded by a high-speed camera. The results show that, when DC voltage was applied, the time required to form cellulosic bridges across the oil gap (named complete bridge) firstly decreased and then increased with the rise of flow velocity. It indicates that the low-speed oil flow could accelerate the formation of complete bridge in the DC field while the high-speed oil flow delays or prevents it. When AC voltage was applied, the length of the longest partial bridge (it did not bridge two electrodes) and the number of cellulose particles accumulated in the gap both increased first and then decreased with the rise of flow velocity. Finally, the results were analyzed according to the force conditions of particles. This paper contributes to understanding the effect of oil flow on bridging characteristics of cellulose particles and lays the foundation for the subsequent studies of breakdown mechanism about flowing contaminated liquid dielectrics.

Influence of cellulosic particle fillers on mechanical properties of hemp fibre-reinforced composites

ABSTRACT Plant-based hemp natural fibre-reinforced composites are sustainable in the view of the environment. However, these composites have not attracted many applications due to their less mechanical properties compared to the synthetic fibre-reinforced composites. The present work reports the hemp fibre-reinforced composite loaded with cellulose-based filler to improve their mechanical properties. At equal proportions of cellulose filler such as pistachio shell powder, teak wood powder, groundnut shell powder reinforced with the hemp fibre-reinforced epoxy composite, the improvement in the tensile strength, flexural strength, % of elongation and % of deformation is reported. The hemp fibre/epoxy composite loaded with 5 wt% of pistachio shell powder shows a 9.28% increment in tensile strength, 50.96 % increment in flexural strength compared to hemp fibre/epoxy composite. The hemp/epoxy composite loaded with 5 wt% teak wood powder particles shows enhancement in tensile, flexural by 31.56 %, 35.97%, respectively. The hemp/epoxy composite loaded with 5 wt% groundnut shell powder particles shows enhancement in tensile, flexural by 42.99 %, 83.99%, respectively.

Insights into Seawater Biodegradation of Sustainable Mater-Bi/Poly(ε-caprolactone)-Based Biocomposites Filled with Diisocyanate-Modified Cellulose Particles

Due to rapid economic growth, the use of plastics in almost all areas of human life has significantly increased over recent decades, leading to massive pollution. Therefore, works dealing with sustainable and biodegradable polymer materials are vital now. Herein, sustainable Mater-Bi/poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)-based biocomposites, filled with diisocyanate-modified cellulose particles, were prepared and subjected to 12-week seawater degradation. Changes in the chemical structure and surface wettability pointed to the increasing hydrophilicity of materials over time, which was limited by diisocyanate modifications. Only minor changes in the thermal performance of analyzed materials have been observed, pointing to the limited biodegradation of the PCL phase. The most significant effects have been related to the composite yellowing due to the filler diisocyanate modifications and surface erosion increasing its roughness. Obtained results pointing to the low degradation rate bring into question the commonly-regarded biodegradable nature of PCL material.

Synthesis of microcrystalline cellulose from abaca nonfluorescent flower pistil and its twill weaved fiber‐polyester composites: Viscoelastic, fatigue, and mechanical properties

AbstractThe development of microcrystalline cellulose from banana flower pistil and its twill weaved woven abaca polyester composites were studied in this research. The aim of this research was to explore the viscoelastic, fatigue, and mechanical behavior of surface‐treated twill weaved abaca fiber and unsaturated polyester incorporating banana flower pistil cellulose particles for various composite combinations. Hand layup process was used to construct the bio‐composite laminates, which were then tested in accordance with american society for testing and materials (ASTM) standards. The maximum tensile strength and modulus, flexural strength and modulus, Izod impact strength, as well asinter laminar shear strength (ILSS) values by addition of 3.0 vol% of cellulose were about 124 MPa, 4.48 GPa, 163 MPa, 5.36 GPa, 5.33 J/m2, and 27 MPa respectively, whereas composite having 5.0 vol% of cellulose gave better hardness of 82 shore‐D. Incorporation of cellulose by 3.0 vol% with 50 vol% of abaca fiber increases fatigue life counts up to 35,480, 29,039, 24,802, and 18,247 for 25%, 50%, 70%, and 90% of ultimate tensile strength (UTS) respectively. On comparing all other composite combinations, the composite containing 3.0 vol% of cellulose shows the highest storage modulus of up to 5.6 GPa and the lowest loss factor of 0.38. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) fractography shows the improved adhesion between fiber and matrix due to the silane treatment on cellulose and abaca fiber. These novel functional materials could be employed in a large range of applications, including industrial, automobile, electronic and household equipment.

Synthesis of Nano-Calcium Oxide from Industrial Brine Sludge Waste with Nanocrystalline Cellulose (NCC) as Addictive/composites and Modelling using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) for Biodiesel Production

Biodiesel production as a fuel in diesel engines has expanded dramatically in recent years and is likely to increase more in the near future. Increasing biodiesel consumption requires optimized production techniques that allow for large production capacities, simplified operations, high yields, and the usage of more cost-effective feedstocks such as waste oils and fats. In this study, biodiesel was produced from waste vegetable oil (WVO) and Methanol (CH3OH) in the presence of a catalyst which was derived from industrial waste that mainly consists of Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3). The produced nano-particle catalyst was characterized by using Fourier Transform infrared (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The optimum operating conditions for the highest biodiesel yield after applying the artificial neural network (ANN) approach was found to be 96.41 % yield at a temperature of 55 °C, catalyst loading of 1.25 % w/v, Methanol to oil ratio of 1:5 w/w and reaction time of 75 min. The FTIR showed the presents of CaO and NCC functional group. SEM image revealed that the produced catalyst is more porous, with small particle size, and XRD pattern presented the presence of cellulose (NCC) and Calcium Oxide (CaO) nano particles in the synthesized catalyst. The R2 of 0.977 was found to be for the mathematical models to predict biodiesel production.

Вплив гарбузової клітковини на перерозподіл структурних груп у тісті та хлібі з пшеничного борошна

Taking into account the recommendations of the FAO WHO to increase the proportion of dietary fiber in the diet, pumpkin products are a promising raw material for inclusion in the recipe of products of various industries, and particulary bakery industry. The content of the main nutrients in pumpkin cellulose is much higher than in high-grade wheat flour: protein — 3.7 times (42% and 11.3%, respectively), dietary fiber — 9.1 times (32% and 3.5 %, respectively). The main protein fraction of pumpkin cellulose is globulin, a slightly lower content is glutelin and albumin, and the content of the prolamin fraction is the lowest. About 87.4% of the total amount of pumpkin cellulose protein was extracted using solvent. The infrared spectra of the dough of the control sample after kneading and the sample with the replacement of 5% of wheat flour with pumpkin cellulose are practically the same over the entire wavelength. In the wavelength range of 1700...1790 nm during fermentation, the spectra shifted significantly upwards, compared to the spectra of the samples after kneading, because pumpkin cellulose, due to its higher content of dietary fibers than wheat flour, as well as its higher water absorption and moisture retention capacity, contributes to less dilution of the dough during fermentation. At a wavelength of 2100 nm, the spectra of the control and replacement dough samples after kneading were superimposed and had a spectral index of 0.46. During fermentation, conformational transformations occur in the structure of the protein matrix. There is a delay in the development of the gluten network due to the inclusion of pumpkin cellulose particles in the gluten frame of the dough. In general, the spectra of samples with 15% replacement of wheat flour with pumpkin cellulose have a similar character to the spectra of samples with 5% replacement. Thus, the partial replacement of wheat flour with pumpkin cellulose in the recipe of wheat bread leads to changes in the structural elements of the dough and the structural and mechanical properties of the dough system and bread.

Effect of Process Parameters, Protectants and Carrier Materials on the Survival of Yeast Cells during Fluidized Bed Granulation for Tableting.

The administration of living microorganisms is of special interest, with regard to probiotic microorganisms providing health benefits to the patient. Effective dosage forms require the preservation of microbial viability until administration. Storage stability can be improved by drying, and the tablet is an especially attractive final solid dosage form due to its ease of administration and its good patient compliance. In this study, drying of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae via fluidized bed spray granulation is investigated, as the probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii is a variety of it. Fluidized bed granulation enables faster drying than lyophilization on the one hand and lower temperatures than spray drying on the other hand, which are the two predominantly used techniques for life-sustaining drying of microorganisms. Yeast cell suspensions enriched with protective additives were sprayed onto the carrier particles of common tableting excipients, namely, dicalcium phosphate (DCP), lactose (LAC) and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). Different protectants, such as mono-, di-, oligo- and polysaccharides, but also skimmed milk powder and one alditol, were tested; as they themselves, or chemically similar molecules, are known from other drying technologies to stabilize biological structures such as cell membranes, and thus, improve survival during dehydration. With the combined use of trehalose and skimmed milk powder, survival rates were 300 times higher than without the use of protective additives. In addition to these formulation aspects, the influence of process parameters such as inlet temperature and spray rate were considered. The granulated products were characterized regarding their particle size distribution, moisture content and the viability of the yeast cells. It has been shown that thermal stress on the microorganisms is especially critical, which can be reduced, for example, by reducing the inlet temperature or increasing the spray rate; however, formulation parameters such as cell concentration also influenced survival. The results were used to specify the influencing factors on the survival of microorganisms during fluidized bed granulation and to derive their linkages. Granules based on the three different carrier materials were tableted and the survival of the microorganisms was evaluated and linked to the tablet tensile strength achieved. Using LAC enabled the highest survival of the microorganisms throughout the considered process chain.

Development of light weight sustainable pineapple/kevlar hybridized fiber and peanut husk cellulose toughened vinyl ester biocomposite for unmanned aerial vehicle applications

AbstractThe aim of this study is to develop a light weight hybrid biocomposite using pineapple and Kevlar fiber with peanut husk cellulose in vinyl ester resin for applications in unmanned aerial vehicles. This study focuses on how the silane treatment on fiber and cellulose particle influences the mechanical, fatigue and low velocity impact properties of this hybrid biocomposites. Using hand lay‐up technique, the biocomposite was prepared with cellulose loading ranging from 1 to 5 vol%. The results revealed that the 5 vol% of cellulose added composite had an improved tensile, impact, flexural, hardness and ILSS of 161 MPa, 224 MPa, 6.8 J, 84 shore‐D and 21.4 MPa. Moreover, the biocomposite with the inclusion of 3 vol% cellulose had an improved fatigue life count of 42 697, 29 821, 22 381 and 18 164 at 25%, 50%, 75% and 90% of UTS. Similarly, the 3 vol% cellulose reinforced composite showed an improved low velocity impact toughness of 12.36 J. The obtained results clearly indicated that these mechanically strengthened and highly toughened biocomposites could be used as working material for number of applications, especially in making of UAVs for the aerospace industry, automotive components for the transportation sector and structural material in domestic infrastructure.

The mechanical and physical properties of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC)/sisal/PMMA hybrid composites for dental applications

The study on polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)-based composites in dental applications has gained much interest in recent years, resulting in many exciting studies worldwide. In those research, various filler types of reinforcing PMMA have been studied extensively. This study combines the microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) particles (0, 1, 2, 3, 5 vol.%) and sisal fiber to strengthen PMMA. We investigate their effects on the flexural, impact, hardness, compressive strength, water absorption, and thermal properties of (MCC)/sisal/PMMA hybrid composites. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), universal testing machine (UTM), hardness Vickers, thermogravimetry analysis (TGA), and ANSYS Workbench 2022 R1 software are utilized to characterize the properties of the composites. X-ray diffraction (XRD) is used to characterize the degree of crystallinity of MCC and sisal fiber. Adding MCC to alkali-treated sisal/PMMA decreases the flexural and impact strengths but increases the hardness. Adding 1 and 2 vol.% MCC produces maximum flexural and impact strength and hardness values. Simulation on a composite added with 1% MCC by applying a full force load of 14.4 N yields compressive strength of 42.56 MPa. Thermal stability of all composites with and without MCC shows similarity until 250 °C but gradually degrades at over 250 °C, particularly for composites with MCC. Besides, as the addition of MCC increases, the water absorption also increases, with the lowest value of 37.54 μg mm−3 obtained by the composite added with 1 vol.% MCC, which is within the range of the standard dental materials.

Nano Cellulose Particles from Pandanus Utilis and Sansevieria Trifasciata Significantly but Differently Improve the Tensile and Flexural Strength of Polyester Composites

Nano Cellulose Particles from Pandanus Utilis and Sansevieria Trifasciata Significantly but Differently Improve the Tensile and Flexural Strength of Polyester Composites

Sustainable and Green Production of Nanostructured Cellulose by a 2-Step Mechano-Enzymatic Process

Nanostructured cellulose (NC) represents an emerging sustainable biomaterial for diverse biotechnological applications; however, its production requires hazardous chemicals that render the process ecologically unfriendly. Using commercial plant-derived cellulose, an innovative strategy for NC production based on the combination of mechanical and enzymatic approaches was proposed as a sustainable alternative to conventional chemical procedures. After ball milling, the average length of the fibers was reduced by one order of magnitude (down to 10-20 μm) and the crystallinity index decreased from 0.54 to 0.07-0.18. Moreover, a 60 min ball milling pre-treatment followed by 3 h Cellic Ctec2 enzymatic hydrolysis led to NC production (15% yield). Analysis of the structural features of NC obtained by the mechano-enzymatic process revealed that the diameters of the obtained cellulose fibrils and particles were in the range of 200-500 nm and approximately 50 nm, respectively. Interestingly, the film-forming property on polyethylene (coating ≅ 2 μm thickness) was successfully demonstrated and a significant reduction (18%) of the oxygen transmission rate was obtained. Altogether, these findings demonstrated that nanostructured cellulose could be successfully produced using a novel, cheap, and rapid 2-step physico-enzymatic process that provides a potential green and sustainable route that could be exploitable in future biorefineries.

Packaging contaminants in former food products: Using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy to identify the remnants and the associated risks

Food waste and feed-food competition can be reduced by replacing traditional feed ingredients such as cereals, with former food products (FFPs) in livestock diets. These foodstuffs, initially intended for human consumption, are recovered, mechanically unpacked, and then ground. Despite this simple and inexpensive treatment, packaging contaminants (remnants) are often unavoidable in the final product. To maximize the exploitation of FFPs and to minimize the associated risks, packaging remnants need to be quantified and characterized. This study tested the efficacy of the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy coupled with an optical microscope (μFT-IR) in identifying packaging remnants in 17 FFP samples collected in different geographical areas. After a visual sorting procedure, presumed packaging remnants were analyzed by μFT-IR. The results showed significant differences (p < 0.05) between the FFPs in terms of the total number of foreign particles found (plastics, cellulose and aluminum remnants, ranging from 4 to 19 particles per 20 g fresh matter), and also regarding the number of cellulose and aluminum particles. These data clearly demonstrate the need for sensitive instruments that can characterize the potential contaminants in the FFPs. This would then help to reduce the overestimation of undesirable contaminants typical of simple visual sorting, which is currently the most common method.

Structure and rheology of oil-continuous capillary suspensions containing water-swellable cellulose beads and fibres

Cellulose particles are used in a range of materials and applications. Here, we investigated the role of cellulose sorptivity on the rheology and microstructure of oil-continuous capillary suspensions consisting of cellulose beads and fibres at volume fractions of 0.3–0.65 and water at volume fractions up to 0.2. We hypothesised that, in spite of their water-absorbent nature, cellulose particles in oil would be structured into a percolated network by water added as an immiscible secondary phase. The interplay between cellulose bead load and water content was used to generate suspensions ranging from flowable to highly elastic with moduli near 1 MPa. While capillary bridging induced a liquid to semi-solid transition, nearer particle volume fractions of 0.65, we found a transition to a solid, wet-granular material. Liquid-solid transitions occurred even if the water was absorbed by the particles, suggesting that the increase in elasticity was not solely due to the formation of capillary bridges, but also as a result of clustering and the associated increase in effective packing volume fraction. Swapping the beads with fibres increased stiffness by 4 orders whereas swapping half of the beads at the same water fraction increased material stiffness by 3 orders of magnitude. The two conclusions of this study were that, even for water-sorptive particles, capillary and hydrophilic interactions may be used to structure oil-continuous suspensions, and that the use of high aspect ratio particles can increase the rigidity of oil-continuous capillary suspensions to a greater extent than beads at an equivalent volume fraction.

From 3D real structure to 3D modelled structure: Modelling water vapor permeability in polypropylene/cellulose composites

A 3D tri-phasic numerical model was developed to predict water vapor permeability in composite materials made of polypropylene (PP) as matrix and cellulose particles as fillers, with existence of an interphase around permeable inclusions. About 70 tri-phasic structures composed of ellipsoidal, heterogenous-size particles were generated to represent composites with four different filler contents (φp=2.96−6.06−12.67−19.91%v/v) with interfacial region at the filler/matrix interface (either 1 or 2 μm thick) displaying its own permeability. The relative permeability (i.e., ratio between composite and neat matrix permeability) was calculated from Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations on these structures. A good prediction of experimental relative permeability for the whole filler content range investigated was observed. The presence of a percolating interphase observed in some structures explains the high permeabilization observed for high φp. The proposed 3D numerical model was confronted to five state-of-the art analytical models and was the only one able to describe the observed complex structures with identification of reliable characteristics for the interphase (thickness, permeability).

Plasticized Mechanical Recycled PLA Films Reinforced with Microbial Cellulose Particles Obtained from Kombucha Fermented in Yerba Mate Waste.

In this study, yerba mate waste (YMW) was used to produce a kombucha beverage, and the obtained microbial cellulose produced as a byproduct (KMW) was used to reinforce a mechanically recycled poly(lactic acid) (r-PLA) matrix. Microbial cellulosic particles were also produced in pristine yerba mate for comparison (KMN). To simulate the revalorization of the industrial PLA products rejected during the production line, PLA was subjected to three extrusion cycles, and the resultant pellets (r3-PLA) were then plasticized with 15 wt.% of acetyl tributyl citrate ester (ATBC) to obtain optically transparent and flexible films by the solvent casting method. The plasticized r3-PLA-ATBC matrix was then loaded with KMW and KMN in 1 and 3 wt.%. The use of plasticizer allowed a good dispersion of microbial cellulose particles into the r3-PLA matrix, allowing us to obtain flexible and transparent films which showed good structural and mechanical performance. Additionally, the obtained films showed antioxidant properties, as was proven by release analyses conducted in direct contact with a fatty food simulant. The results suggest the potential interest of these recycled and biobased materials, which are obtained from the revalorization of food waste, for their industrial application in food packaging and agricultural films.

Edible Oleogels Fabricated by Dispersing Cellulose Particles in Oil Phase: Effects from the Water Addition

A new strategy to fabricate edible oleogels had been developed in this work, using natural cellulose particles as gelator and water as secondary fluid. Effect of the content of cellulose particles and second fluid on the formation of oleogels were investigated, and a qualitative phase diagram was constructed. Consideration has also focused on the influence of second fluid (ionic strength, pH and sucrose). Results showed that the cellulose particles could form a network in oil phase through the capillary force originated from the secondary fluid. A denser and more uniform network provided the oleogels higher centrifugal stability against oil loss. The viscoelastic properties of oleogels could be enhanced by increasing the ionic strength (10–100 mM), sucrose concentration (10–20 wt%) and pH value (2.0–5.0) of the second fluid. These results suggested that the capillary force of the gel network could be modulated by the composition and pH of secondary fluid. The considerable gel strength and economical manufacturing process give the oleogels great application potential. • Edible oleogels were prepared using a simple and economical process. • Using natural cellulose particles as gelator and water as the second fluid. • Cellulose particles could form a network in oil phase through the capillary force. • Strength of the oleogels could be modulated by the water phase.

The effects of cellulose particle sizes on biofilm from longkong peel

The effects of cellulose particle sizes on biofilm from longkong peel