Utilization of nanocellulose from cotton agricultural residues: materials and applications

Authors: Jordan, Jacobs; Easson, Michael; Cheng, Huai; Condon, Brian

Submitted to: American Chemical Society National Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/18/2019
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Nanocellulose in the form of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) or cellulose nanofibers (CNF) are a renewable biopolymer that can be extracted from over thirty plant species including cotton, tunicate, sugarcane, soy, and various wood sources. Nanocellulose dimensions from these processed feedstocks range from a few nanometers in width to lengths of several microns, depending on the source material, method of isolation, and ultimate product (CNC or CNF). Increasingly, the focus has been on using agroindustrial by-products as cellulose sources to produce nanocellulose, both as a means of conserving cost and reducing waste. In this regard, cotton gin motes and cotton gin waste were shown to be an effective cellulose source for the production of CNCs with or without chemical pretreatments. CNCs and CNFs may be subsequently chemically modified for specific uses or tailored for applications as rheology modifiers, polymer reinforcements, and nanocomposites. Thus, observed effects are dependent upon not only the nanocellulose morphology, but also their chemical composition. A comparison is then drawn between cellulose source (wood vs cotton), type (CNC vs CNF), and functionality (carboxylate vs sulfate).