Preparation of Chitin/Cellulose Films Compatibilized with Polymeric Ionic Liquids

This paper reports the preparation of chitin/cellulose films compatibilized with polymeric ionic liquids. In-situ (co)polymerization of polymerizable ionic liquids, 1-(3-methacryloyloxypropyl)-3-vinylimidazolium bromide (1) and 1-methyl-3-vinylbenzylimidazolium chloride (3), was carried out in the presence of a radical initiator, AIBN, in the chitin/cellulose solution with ionic liquid solvents (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate and chloride, BMIMOAc and BMIMCl, respectively), followed by the appropriate procedure to give the desired films. The presence of the polymeric ionic liquid in the film was confirmed by the IR measurement. The powder X-ray diffraction analysis suggested that crystalline structures of the polysaccharides were largely disrupted in the film, as same as that of a chitin/cellulose film prepared by the AMIMOAc/BMIMCl system. These results were different from the XRD result of a chitin/cellulose film prepared by the 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide/BMIMCl system reported in our previous study, in which some crystalline structures were still remained in the film. Furthermore, the mechanical properties of the present films were evaluated by tensile testing, which were affected by the molar ratios of the polymeric ionic liquids to the polysaccharides and the compositional ratios of the two units 1 and 3.     

Facile Preparation of Chitin/Cellulose Composite Films Using Ionic Liquids

In this study, we performed the facile preparation of chitin/cellulose composite films using two ionic liquids, 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (AMIMBr) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BMIMCl); the former dissolves chitin and the latter dissolves cellulose. First, solutions of chitin in AMIMBr and cellulose in BMIMCl were individually prepared by heating each mixture at 100 °C for 24 h. Then, the homogeneous mixture of the two solutions was thinly casted on a glass plate, followed by standing at room temperature for 2 h. After the material was subjected to successive Soxhlet extractions with ethanol for 12 h and with water for 12 h, the residue was dried at room temperature to give a composite film. The crystalline structures of the polysaccharides were evaluated by the X-ray diffraction measurement. Furthermore, the thermal stability and mechanical property of the resulting composite film were estimated by the thermal gravimetric analysis measurement and tensile testing, respectively.     

Preparation of Cellulose/Xanthan Gum Composite Films and Hydrogels Using Ionic Liquid

This paper reports the preparation of cellulose/xanthan gum composite films and hydrogels through gelation with an ionic liquid. Mixtures of cellulose and xanthan gum in desired weight ratios with an ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BMIMCl), were thinly placed on a Petri dish and heated at 100 °C for 9 h to obtain the solutions. Then, the solutions were left standing at room temperature for 1 day for the progress of gelation. The resulting ion gels were subjected to Soxhlet extraction with ethanol to remove BMIMCl, followed by drying under ambient conditions to obtain the composite films. The crystalline structures of the polysaccharides and the mechanical properties were evaluated by powder X-ray diffraction measurement and tensile testing of the films, respectively. The ion gels in various cellulose/xanthan gum weight ratios, which were prepared in a test tube by the same procedure, were immersed in water for the exchange of disperse media to obtain the cellulose/xanthan gum composite hydrogels. Water contents of all the materials were higher than 90 %. The mechanical properties of the hydrogels were evaluated by compressive testing.     

Reinforcement of Yeast Biomass Films with Bacterial Cellulose and Rice Husk Cellulose Nanofibres

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - In the last decades, cellulose nanoparticles have been widely used to reinforce polymeric materials due to their strength and their wide availability in...     

Mechanical Property and Biodegradability of Cast Films Prepared from Blends of Oppositely Charged Biopolymers

Biodegradable cast films of about 50 m thickness were fabricated by blending oppositely charged biopolymers such as anionic starch–chitosan, and cationic starch–pectin. The tensile strength and elongation at break (%) of films were evaluated as well as their capacity to degrade in compost. Films recovered from soil every 48 h showed consistent degradation (weight loss), diminution of the polymers characteristic peak absorbance in the carbohydrate fingerprint region of the FTIR, and changes in the surface morphology via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Anionic starch–chitosan films had much superior tensile strength and elongation compared to cationic starch–pectin, suggesting that the ionic bonds formed between anionic-starch and positively charged groups in chitosan polymer were much more stable and stronger. Initially, both films lost about 36% weight within 96 h, which also correlated well with the loss in the characteristic absorption peaks in the region of the infrared spectrum typical of biopolymers. The total mineralization of films by microorganisms in compost soil was also measured using respirometric techniques. Though the rate of mineralization differed for two formulations, total mineralization (extent) for both films were achieved within 45 days.     

Preparation and Fundamental Characterization of Cellulose Nanocrystal from Oil Palm Fronds Biomass

The objective of this work was to isolate cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) from oil palm fronds (Elaeis guineensis) and its subsequent characterization. Isolation involves sodium hydroxide/anthraquinone pulping with mechanical refining followed by total chlorine free bleaching (includes oxygen delignification, hydrogen peroxide oxidation and peracetic acid treatment) before acid hydrolysis. Bleaching significantly decreased kappa number and increased α-cellulose percentage of fibers as confirmed by Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry standards. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis revealed that acid hydrolysis along with bleaching improved crystallinity index and thermal stability of the extracted nanocrystals. It was observed that CNC maintained its cellulose 1 polymorph despite hydrolysis treatment. Mean diameter as observed by TEM and average fiber aspect ratio of obtained CNC was 7.44 ± 0.17 nm and 16.53 ± 3.52, respectively making it suitable as a reinforcing material for nanocomposite.     

Thermal,Mechanical and Physical Properties of Composite Films Developed from Seaweed Polysaccharides/Cellulose Nanofibers

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - Algae-based materials appear to be promising substitutes for plastics in many applications due to their eco-friendly belongings. However, high solubility,...     

Characterization of Biodegradable Composite Films Prepared from Blends of Poly(Vinyl Alcohol), Cornstarch,and Lignocellulosic Fiber

Several composite blends of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and lignocellulosic fibers were prepared and characterized. Cohesive and flexible cast films were obtained by blending lignocellulosic fibers derived from orange waste and PVA with or without cornstarch. Films were evaluated for their thermal stability, water permeability and biodegradation properties. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated the suitability of formulations for melt processing, and for application as mulch films in fields at much higher temperatures. Composite films were permeable to water, but at the same time able to maintain consistency and composition upon drying. Chemical crosslinking of starch, fiber and PVA, all hydroxyl functionalized polymers, by hexamethoxymethylmelamine (HMMM) improved water resistance in films. Films generally biodegraded within 30 days in soil, achieving between 50–80% mineralization. Both starch and lignocellulosic fiber degraded much more rapidly than PVA. Interestingly, addition of fiber to formulations enhanced the PVA degradation.     

Introduction of Ionic Liquids as Highly Efficient Plasticizers and Flame Retardants of Cellulose Triacetate Films

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - As a promising biodegradable polymer, cellulose triacetate (CTA) was synthesized and plasticized with ionic liquids to produce flexible biocomposite films...     

Facile Preparation of Chitosan Films for High Performance Removal of Reactive Blue 19 Dye from Aqueous Solution

This study aimed at finding effective strategies for high-performance removal of reactive blue 19 (RB19) dye from aqueous solution. Chitosan (CS) films had been prepared by using solvent casting with mild drying for this purpose. The CS films were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The performance of RB19 removal using CS were evaluated by varying contact time, solution pH, initial dye concentration, and adsorbent dosage. Adsorption isotherms, kinetics, and desorption were investigated by batch experiments. Results showed that CS films exhibited the optimal adsorption performance for RB19 removal and high maximum adsorption capacities of RB19, which were 799 and 822.4 mg g^?1 at 20 and 40 °C, respectively. Adsorption kinetic data were well described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. FTIR analyses further indicated that interactions between RB19 and the CS film occurred during adsorption. The CS films also exhibited satisfactory desorption of RB19 at about 80 % after 30 min of desorption at pH 11. Our study demonstrated that the CS films can be easily prepared and applied for effective removal of RB19 in treatment of wastewater.     

Preparation and Characterization of Cellulose/Polypropylene Composite Using an Oxidatively Degraded Polypropylene

In this work, an oxidatively degraded polypropylene (DgPP) was studied as a novel coupling agent for fibrous cellulose (FC)/polypropylene (PP) composite. An optimal preparation time of PP thermal oxidative degradation was 18 h at 130 °C, and the DgPP had functional groups such as γ-lactone and acid groups. The spherulite observation of the DgPP suggested miscibility for the undegraded PP. The addition of the DgPP presented the transparency improvement of FC/PP composite, and this behavior was found to be originated from the grafted DgPP, which was produced by the esterification reaction between the of FC and the DgPP. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation showed that the grafted DgPP coated the FC surface, and the tensile strength of the FC/PP composite increased by an appropriate amount of the DgPP addition. These results suggested that the DgPP was suitable for the coupling agent of FC/PP composite.     

Biodegradable Blends with Potential Use in Packaging: A Comparison of PLA/Chitosan and PLA/Cellulose Acetate Films

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a biodegradable polymer that exhibits high elastic modulus, high mechanical strength, and feasible processability. However, high cost and fragility hinder the application of PLA in food packaging. Therefore, this study aimed to develop flexible PLA/acetate and PLA/chitosan films with improved thermal and mechanical properties without the addition of a plasticizer and additive to yield extruder compositions with melt temperatures above those of acetate and chitosan. PLA blends with 10, 20, and 30 wt% of chitosan or cellulose acetate were processed in a twin-screw extruder, and grain pellets were then pressed to form films. PLA/acetate films showed an increase of 30 °C in initial degradation temperature and an increase of 3.9 % in elongation at break. On the other hand, PLA/chitosan films showed improvements in mechanical properties as an increase of 4.7 % in elongation at break. PLA/chitosan film which presented the greatest increase in elongation at break proved to be the best candidate for application in packaging.     

A Solvent-Free Approach for Production of Films from Pectin and Fungal Biomass

Self-binding ability of the pectin molecules was used to produce pectin films using the compression molding technique, as an alternative method to the high energy-demanding and solvent-using casting technique. Moreover, incorporation of fungal biomass and its effects on the properties of the films was studied. Pectin powder plasticized with 30% glycerol was subjected to heat compression molding (120 °C, 1.33 MPa, 10 min) yielding pectin films with tensile strength and elongation at break of 15.7 MPa and 5.5%, respectively. The filamentous fungus Rhizopus oryzae was cultivated using the water-soluble nutrients obtained from citrus waste and yielded a biomass containing 31% proteins and 20% lipids. Comparatively, the same strain was cultivated in a semi-synthetic medium resulting in a biomass with higher protein (60%) and lower lipid content (10%). SEM images showed addition of biomass yielded films with less debris compared to the pectin films. Incorporation of the low protein content biomass up to 15% did not significantly reduce the mechanical strength of the pectin films. In contrast, addition of protein-rich biomass (up to 20%) enhanced the tensile strength of the films (16.1–19.3 MPa). Lastly, the fungal biomass reduced the water vapor permeability of the pectin films.     

用废腈纶制备高分子增稠剂

以废腈纶为原料，经碱法水解反应和扩链反应制取乳液用高分子增稠剂。水解工艺条件为水解温度95℃，水解时间4h；水解配方为m(PAN)：m(NaOH)：m(H2O)=1：0．6：5；扩链反应温度95℃，扩链反应时间约4h。对不同乳液体系进行的增稠性能评价及应用表明，利用该技术制备出的高分子增稠剂性能优良，应用范围广泛。现已建成一套生产能力为1000t/a的工业装置。