Both cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) are nanoscale cellulose fibers that have shown reinforcing effects in polymer nanocomposites. CNCs and CNFs are different in shape, size and composition. This study systematically compared their morphologies, crystalline structure, dispersion properties in polyethylene oxide (PEO) matrix, interactions with matrix, and the resul...

The objective of this research was to evaluate an all-chemical process to prepare nano-scale to macro-scale cellulosic fibers from kenaf bast fibers, for polymer composite reinforcement. The procedure used in this all-chemical process included alkaline retting to obtain single cellulosic retted fiber, bleaching treatment to obtain delignified bleached fiber, and acidic hydrolysis to obtain both...

Enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose is key for the production of second generation biofuels, which represent a long-standing leading area in the field of sustainable energy. Despite the wealth of knowledge about cellulase structure and function, the elusive mechanism by which these enzymes disintegrate the complex structure of their insoluble substrate, which is the gist of cellulose saccharifica...

The applicability of cotton-bleached soda pulp (C-BSP) was investigated as a raw material for manufacturing cationic nano-fibrillated cellulose (NFC) via quaternization anionic NFC using glycidyl-trimethyl-ammonium chloride (GMA). prepared by beating and micro-grinding C-BSP, performed post treatment to induce charge reversal in NFC. characteristics manufactured C-BSP hardwood-bleached kraft (H...

Abstract Nanocellulose is an emerging material that needs to be well characterized control its performance during industrial applications. Gel point (Ø g ) a convenient parameter commonly used estimate the aspect ratio (AR) of cellulose nano/microfibers (CNFs/CMFs), providing critical information on nanofiber network. However, estimation requires many sedimentation experiments, tedious and time...

Biorefinery aims at designing new virtuous and high-efficiency energy chains, achieving the combined production of biofuels (e.g., bioethanol) and biobased products. This emerging philosophy can represent an important opportunity for the industrial world, exploiting a new kind of nano-smart biomaterials in their production chains. This paper will present the lab experience carried out by the Bi...

Nature itself uses materials like cellulose to provide the structure of plants, chitin as the exoskeleton of several insects and molluscs, collagen for mechanical support in connective tissues and so on. At present, the socioeconomic situation of the modern world has raised the interest in renewable materials to use in regenerative medicine. The composition of Chitosan and/or Calcium Phosphates...

This paper proposes non-fragile compliant humidity sensors that can be fabricated inexpensively on various types of nano-porous polymer membranes such as polycarbonate, cellulose acetate, and nylon membranes. The sensor contains a pair of interdigitated electrodes deposited on the nano-porous polymer membranes. The resistance and/or capacitance between these electrodes vary at different humidit...