Study on the wet-web strength and pressability of paper sheet during the press process with the addition of nano-fibrillated cellulose (NFC)

Dissolution behavior of ionic liquids for different ratios of lignin and cellulose in the preparation of nanocellulose/lignin blends

Lignin is regarded as a potential solution for boosting the strength of cellulose-based products. However, the mechanism of co-solubilization for lignin and cellulose has not been investigated. In this study, the effect of lignin content on the interaction between lignin and nanocellulose during lignin/cellulose co-dissolution was examined. The results revealed that lignin binds to nanocellulose throughout the dissolution process to limit the degradation of cellulose and to prepare nanocellulose/lignin composites. Moreover, the S units in lignin were more likely to interact with cellulose during the dissolution process, whereas the G units were more likely to condense. However, when the lignin content exceeded 30 wt%, the excess lignin created a severe condensation reaction, which led to a decrease in the lignin content bound to cellulose, resulting in an unequal dissolution of cellulose. Thus, a small amount of lignin attached to cellulose during the co-dissolution of lignin and cellulose inhibits cellulose degradation and can be utilized to create nanocellulose/lignin to extend the potential applications of nanocellulosic materials.

Exploring nanocellulose frontiers: A comprehensive review of its extraction, properties, and pioneering applications in the automotive and biomedical industries

Material is an inseparable entity for humans to serve different purposes. However, synthetic polymers represent a major category of anthropogenic pollutants with detrimental impacts on natural ecosystems. This escalating environmental issue is characterized by the accumulation of non-biodegradable plastic materials, which pose serious threats to the health of our planet's ecosystem. Cellulose is becoming a focal point for many researchers due to its high availability. It has been used to serve various purposes. Recent scientific advancements have unveiled innovative prospects for the utilization of nanocellulose within the area of advanced science. This comprehensive review investigates deeply into the field of nanocellulose, explaining the methodologies employed in separating nanocellulose from cellulose. It also explains upon two intricately examined applications that emphasize the pivotal role of nanocellulose in nanocomposites. The initial instance pertains to the automotive sector, encompassing cutting-edge applications in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, while the second exemplifies the use of nanocellulose in the field of biomedical applications like otorhinolaryngology, ophthalmology, and wound dressing. This review aims to provide comprehensive information starting from the definitions, identifying the sources of the nanocellulose and its extraction, and ending with the recent applications in the emerging field such as energy storage and biomedical applications.

Highly anisotropic thermal conductivity and electrical insulation of nanofibrillated cellulose/Al2O3@rGO composite films: effect of the particle size

Nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) film has received tremendous attention due to its excellent electrical insulation, which shows great application prospects in the field of electronic devices. However, the low efficient heat dissipation of NFC film largely limits its use in advanced applications. In this work, the reduced graphene oxide hybrid fillers loaded alumina (Al₂O₃) particles with different sizes were synthesized by different drying methods, and then they were mixed with NFC to prepare a series of NFC-based composite films. The effect of Al₂O₃particle sizes on the thermal conductivity of NFC-based composite films was studied. The results showed that the surface areas of l-Al₂O₃particles were smaller than that of s-Al₂O₃particles, resulting in the smaller interface thermal resistance and superior thermal conductivity of the film containing l-Al₂O₃particles. The NFC-based composite films showed great potential for applications in thermal management by adjusting the particle size of fillers.

Advanced Functional Materials Based on Nanocellulose for Pharmaceutical/Medical Applications

Nanocelluloses (NCs), with their remarkable characteristics, have proven to be one of the most promising "green" materials of our times and have received special attention from researchers in nanomaterials. A diversity of new functional materials with a wide range of biomedical applications has been designed based on the most desirable properties of NCs, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, and their special physicochemical properties. In this context and under the pressure of rapid development of this field, it is imperative to synthesize the successes and the new requirements in a comprehensive review. The first part of this work provides a brief review of the characteristics of the NCs (cellulose nanocrystals-CNC, cellulose nanofibrils-CNF, and bacterial nanocellulose-BNC), as well as of the main functional materials based on NCs (hydrogels, nanogels, and nanocomposites). The second part presents an extensive review of research over the past five years on promising pharmaceutical and medical applications of nanocellulose-based materials, which have been discussed in three important areas: drug-delivery systems, materials for wound-healing applications, as well as tissue engineering. Finally, an in-depth assessment of the in vitro and in vivo cytotoxicity of NCs-based materials, as well as the challenges related to their biodegradability, is performed.

Balancing the decomposable behavior and wet tensile mechanical property of cellulose-based wet wipe substrates by the aqueous adhesive

With the current global outbreak of novel coronaviruses, the fabrication of decomposable wet wipe with sufficient wet strength to meet daily use is promising but still challenging, especially when renewable cellulose was employed. In this work, a decomposable cellulose-based wet wipe substrate is demonstrated by introducing a synthetic N-vinyl pyrrolidone-glycidyl methacrylate (NVP-GMA) adhesive on the cellulose surface. Experimental results reveal that the NVP-GMA adhesive not only significantly facilitates the chemical bonding between cellulose fibers in the wet state, but also increase the surface wettability and water retention. The as-fabricated cellulose-based wet wipe substrate displays a superb water retention capacity of 1.9 times, an excellent water absorption capacity (completely wetted with 0° water contact angle), and a perfect wet tensile index of 3.32 N.m.g⁻¹. It is far better than state-of-the-art wet toilet wipe on the market (non-woven). The prepared renewable and degradable cellulose-based substrate with excellent mechanical strength has potential application prospects in diverse commercially available products such as sanitary and medical wet wipes.

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A decomposable wet wipe substrate was prepared from the bio-based materials.

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Synthetic adhesive enhanced the wet strength of the cellulose sheet.

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Enhancement of cellulose-based material was achieved under aqueous conditions.

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As-prepared cellulose substrate balanced the dispersibility and wet strength.

Advances in tissue engineering of nanocellulose-based scaffolds: A review

Scaffolds based on nanocellulose (NC) have crucial applications in tissue engineering (TE) owing to the biocompatibility, water absorption, water retention, optical transparency, and chemo-mechanical properties. In this review, we summarize the scaffolds based on nanocellulose, including nanocrystalline cellulose and nanofibrillated cellulose. We compare four representative methods to prepare NC-based scaffolds, containing electrospinning, freeze-drying, 3D printing, and solvent casting. We outline the characteristics of scaffolds obtained by different methods. Our focus is on the applications of NC-based scaffolds to repair, improve or replace damaged tissues and organs, including skin, blood vessel, nerve, skeletal muscle, heart, liver, and ophthalmology. NC-based scaffolds are attractive materials for regeneration of different tissues and organs due to the remarkable features. Finally, we propose the challenges and potentials of NC-based TE scaffolds.