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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Cotton Quality and Innovation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #385718
Research Project: Enhanced Cotton for Value-Added Applications

Location: Cotton Quality and Innovation Research

Title: Effect of nanocellulose on the properties of cottonseed protein isolate as a paper strength agent

Author
item Jordan, Jacobs
item Cheng, Huai
item Easson, Michael
item YAO, WEI - Tulane University
item Condon, Brian
item GIBB, BRUCE - Tulane University

Submitted to: Materials
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/22/2021
Publication Date: 7/24/2021
Citation: Jordan, J.H., Cheng, H.N., Easson, M.W., Yao, W., Condon, B.D., Gibb, B.C. 2021. Effect of nanocellulose on the properties of cottonseed protein isolate as a paper strength agent. Materials. 14:4128. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14154128.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14154128

Interpretive Summary: There is current interest in using biopolymers to replace petroleum-based additives because they are abundantly available, renewable, and sustainable. Cottonseed protein is a biopolymer that has shown improved performance for wood adhesives and paper products. Since cottonseed protein can be used as a modifier to improve the performance of paper products, it would be useful to explore the feasibility of using cellulose nanomaterials to further improve the performance of cottonseed protein as a paper strength additive. The use of agricultural waste and residues in composite materials is a potential high-value commercial application for underutilized renewable resources and provides alternative commercial markets to the cotton agricultural industry. Cotton gin motes (CGM) are underutilized low-value commodities that are attractive targets due to their high cellulose content. CGM were used to prepare cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) to assess as a performance additive when added to cottonseed protein isolate for paper products. This research characterized the performance use of cottonseed protein isolate with/without CNCs and CNFs as co-additives to increase the dry strength of paper products. Improved dry strength was observed with the composites compared to cottonseed protein alone.

Technical Abstract: There is current interest in using biopolymers to replace petroleum-based additives in industrial applications because they are abundantly available, renewable, and sustainable. Cottonseed protein is a biopolymer that has shown improved performance for wood adhesives and paper products. Since cottonseed protein can be used as a modifier to improve the performance of paper products, it would be useful to explore the feasibility of using cellulose nanomaterials to further improve the performance of cottonseed protein as a paper strength additive. This research characterized the performance of cottonseed protein isolate with/without cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) as co-additives to increase the dry strength of paper products. Application of 10% protein solution with CNCs (10:1) or CNFs (50:1) improved the tensile modulus, tensile strength and elongation at break of paper products compared to the improved performance of cottonseed protein alone. Further characterization by thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy suggested that cottonseed protein/nanocellulose composites interacted with the fibers in the paper products to impart increased dry strength.