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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Western Regional Research Center » Bioproducts Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #346571
Research Project: Bioproducts from Agricultural Feedstocks

Location: Bioproducts Research

Title: Solution blow spun nanocomposites of poly(lactic acid)/cellulose nanocrystals from Eucalyptus kraft pulp

Author
item PARIZE, DELNE - Universidade Federal De Sao Carlos
item OLIVEIRA, JULIANO - Federal University Of Lavras
item Williams, Tina
item Wood, Delilah - De
item Avena-Bustillos, Roberto
item Klamczynski, Artur
item Glenn, Gregory - Greg
item MARCONCINI, JOSE - Embrapa
item MATTOSO, LUIZ - Embrapa

Submitted to: Carbohydrate Polymers
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/10/2017
Publication Date: 10/15/2017
Citation: Parize, D.D., Oliveira, J.E., Williams, T.G., Wood, D.F., Avena-Bustillos, R.D., Klamczynski, A., Glenn, G.M., Marconcini, J.M., Mattoso, L.H. 2017. Solution blow spun nanocomposites of poly(lactic acid)/cellulose nanocrystals from Eucalyptus kraft pulp. Carbohydrate Polymers. 174:923-932.

Interpretive Summary: Cellulose nanocrystals help improve PLA nanofibers. PLA nanofibers have been used in membranes or as adsorbent materials but the nanofibers need greater stability. ARS scientists in Albany, CA collaborated with scientists at EMBRAPA in Brazil to incorporate cellulose nanocrystals in PLA nanofibers which improved the stability of the nanofibers and increased their ability to wet. These improved composite materials could lead to applications in filters and absorbents.

Technical Abstract: Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were extracted from Eucalyptus kraft pulp by sulfuric acid hydrolysis, and esterified with maleic anhydride (CNCMA). The incorporation of sulfate ester groups on the cellulose surface resulted in higher stability of the nanoparticles in aqueous suspensions and lower thermal stability. Then, PLA/CNC and PLA/CNCMA nanocomposites were successfully obtained by solution blow spinning (SBS) using dimethyl carbonate (DMC) as solvent. CNC and CNCMA indicated to be acting both as nucleating agents or growth inhibitors of PLA crystal and tends to favor the formation of PLA crystals of higher stability. A fraction of the nanocrystals indicate to be exposed on the surface of the PLA fibers, since the hydrophilicity of the composite films increased significantly. Such composites may have potential application as filtering membranes or adsorbents.