Due to their abundance, high strength and stiffness, low weight and biodegradability, nano-scale cellulose fiber materials (e.g., microfibrillated cellulose and bacterial cellulose) serve as promising candidates for bio-nanocomposite production. Such new high-value materials are the subject of continuing research and are commercially interesting in terms of new products from the pulp and paper industry and the agricultural sector. Cellulose nanofibers can be extracted from various plant sources and, although the mechanical separation of plant fibers into smaller elementary constituents has typically required high energy input, chemical and/or enzymatic fiber pre-treatments have been developed to overcome this problem. A challenge associated with using nanocellulose in composites is the lack of compatibility with hydrophobic polymers and various chemical modification methods have been explored in order to address this hurdle. This review summarizes progress in nanocellulose preparation with a particular focus on microfibrillated cellulose and also discusses recent developments in bio-nanocomposite fabrication based on nanocellulose.

Microfibrillated cellulose and new nanocomposite materials: a review

Green composites from sustainable cellulose nanofibrils: A review

In recent years, natural fibers reinforced composites have received much attention because of their lightweight, nonabrasive, combustible, nontoxic, low cost and biodegradable properties. Among the various natural fibers; flax, bamboo, sisal, hemp, ramie, jute, and wood fibers are of particular interest. A lot of research work has been performed all over the world on the use of natural fibers as a reinforcing material for the preparation of various types of composites. However, lack of good interfacial adhesion, low melting point, and poor resistance towards moisture make the use of natural fiber reinforced composites less attractive. Pretreatments of the natural fiber can clean the fiber surface, chemically modify the surface, stop the moisture absorption process, and increase the surface roughness. Among the various pretreatment techniques, graft copolymerization and plasma treatment are the best methods for surface modification of natural fibers. Graft copolymers of natural fibers with vinyl monomers provide better adhesion between matrix and fiber. In the present article, the use of pretreated natural fibers in polymer matrix-based composites has been reviewed. Effect of surface modification of natural fibers on the properties of fibers and fiber reinforced polymer composites has also been discussed. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2009. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers

Pretreatments of Natural Fibers and their Application as Reinforcing Material in Polymer Composites—A Review

https://www.alice.cnptia.embrapa.br/bitstream/doc/579864/1/PA09005.pdf

Nanocomposites for food packaging applications

Lignocellulosic feedstock materials are the most abundant renewable bioresource material available on earth. It is primarily composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, which are strongly associated with each other. Pretreatment processes are mainly involved in effective separation of these complex interlinked fractions and increase the accessibility of each individual component, thereby becoming an essential step in a broad range of applications particularly for biomass valorization. However, a major hurdle is the removal of sturdy and rugged lignin component which is highly resistant to solubilization and is also a major inhibitor for hydrolysis of cellulose and hemicellulose. Moreover, other factors such as lignin content, crystalline, and rigid nature of cellulose, production of post-pretreatment inhibitory products and size of feed stock particle limit the digestibility of lignocellulosic biomass. This has led to extensive research in the development of various pretreatment processes. The major pretreatment methods include physical, chemical, and biological approaches. The selection of pretreatment process depends exclusively on the application. As compared to the conventional single pretreatment process, integrated processes combining two or more pretreatment techniques is beneficial in reducing the number of process operational steps besides minimizing the production of undesirable inhibitors. However, an extensive research is still required for the development of new and more efficient pretreatment processes for lignocellulosic feedstocks yielding promising results.

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Recent updates on different methods of pretreatment of lignocellulosic feedstocks: a review

Chitosan-starch composite film: preparation and characterization.

Nanocomposites of chitosan and nanoclays (MMT-Na+ and Cloisite 30B) were prepared by solvent casting. The structural properties, thermal behaviors, and mechanical properties were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry analyses, and an Instron universal testing machine. XRD and TEM results indicated that an exfoliated structure was formed with addition of small amounts of MMT-Na+ to the chitosan matrix. Intercalation along with some exfoliation occurred with up to 5 wt % MMT-Na+. Micro-scale composite (tactoids) formed when Cloisite 30B was added to the chitosan matrix. Surface roughness increased with addition of a small amount of clay. Tensile strength of a chitosan film was enhanced and elongation-at-break decreased with addition of clay into the chitosan matrix. Melt behavior and thermal stability did not change significantly with addition of clays. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99: 1684–1691, 2006

Chitosan/clay nanocomposite film preparation and characterization

Acetylation of high-amylose (70%) maize starch to high degree of substitution (DS) was studied by reacting starch with acetic anhydride using 50% aqueous NaOH as the catalyst. DS increased with increasing reaction times and increasing ratios of acetic anhydride to starch. Reaction efficiency (RE) increased with longer reaction times and decreased with increases in the ratios of acetic anhydride to starch for extended reaction times. Increasing the amount of NaOH increased both DS and RE. A series of starch acetates with DS values of 0.57–2.23 were prepared and their crystalline structures, chemical structures, thermal stability, and morphological properties were investigated. After acetylation, and as DS increased from 0.57 to 2.23, the crystalline structures of starch steadily disappeared. The carbonyl group's peak at 1,740 cm-1 appeared in the FTIR spectra. The intensity of this peak increased with a decrease in the peak intensity of the hydroxyl groups at 3,000-3,600 cm-1, indicating that the ...

/pdf/synthesis-and-characterization-of-starch-acetates-with-high-3fwhzj832m.pdf

Synthesis and Characterization of Starch Acetates with High Substitution

Electrospray encapsulation of water-soluble protein with polylactide. Effects of formulations on morphology, encapsulation efficiency and release profile of particles.

Yixiang Xu

Papers

Chitosan-starch composite film: preparation and characterization.

Chitosan/clay nanocomposite film preparation and characterization

Synthesis and Characterization of Starch Acetates with High Substitution

Electrospray encapsulation of water-soluble protein with polylactide. Effects of formulations on morphology, encapsulation efficiency and release profile of particles.

Adding value to carbon dioxide from ethanol fermentations