Absorbent Properties of Carboxymethylated Fiber, Hydroentangled Nonwoven and Regenerated Cellulose: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Commercially-available, bleached cotton fibers, rayon, and their hydroentangled counterparts were carboxymethylated to produce cellulosic products with increased absorbency. These cellulose materials were tested for absorbance, spectroscopic properties, degree of substitution and carding ability. Carboxymethylated fibers and hydroentangled webs exhibited increased water retention as the degree of substitution increased before losing fiber integrity and carding ability. AUTHORS' ADDRESSES

Recent Developments of Carboxymethyl Cellulose

“…The degree of CMC substitution also directs the properties of cellulose substrates. Controlling DS allows the balance of properties between CMC and cellulose substrates [ 30 , 31 , 32 ].…”

“…It is noteworthy that depending on the source of CMC’s cellulose and synthesis procedure, the DS value of CMC varies from one to another. For example, based on different sources, the recommended DS values at optimum condition are 0.17 ( Musa paradisiacal fruit) [ 133 ]; 0.28 ( Musa parasidiaca stem) [ 133 ]; 0.29 (oil palm fiber) [ 134 ]; 0.31 (palm kernel cake) [ 134 ]; 0.33 ( Tithonia diversifolia stalk) [ 133 ]; 0.35 ( M. sinensis ) [ 135 ]; 0.3–0.4 (cotton fiber) [ 30 , 31 , 32 ]; 0.51 (seaweed) [ 136 ]; 0.67 (sugar beet pulp) [ 137 ]; 0.76 ( C. papyrus ) [ 135 ]; 0.80 ( E. crassipes ) [ 135 ]; 0.82 (sago waste) [ 5 ]; 0.87 (durian rind) [ 9 ]; 1.07 (office waste paper) [ 19 ]; 2.39 (corn leaves) [ 138 ]; 1.21 (waste disposable paper cups) [ 139 ]; 1.76 (water hyacinth) [ 140 ]; 2.41 (corn husk) [ 119 ], etc. On the other hand, synthesis techniques including the range of concentration of reagents (NaOH, MCA) or reaction temperature and time, significantly impact the DS values.…”

“…Due to the facile, low-cost synthesis process, an abundance of raw materials, characteristic surface properties [ 24 , 25 ], mechanical strength [ 26 ], different formability [ 27 , 28 ], tuneable hydrophilicity [ 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ], a viscosity [ 33 ], rheological properties [ 34 ], and likewise hundreds of other contrasting aspects, CMC and CMC-based hybrid materials have found a wide range of applications in the biomedical, pharmaceutical, textile, construction, food, plastics, cosmetics, paper, and oil industries. For instance, in biomedical fields, CMC and its composites are widely used in tissue engineering [ 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 ], bone-tissue engineering [ 39 , 40 , 41 ], wound dressing [ 31 , 32 , 42 , 43 , 44 ], absorbent nonwovens [ 30 ], fabrication of 3D-scaffolds for biocompatible implants [ 45 , 46 ], artificial organs or mimics of extracellular polymeric matrix [ 47 , 48 ], diagnosis of various diseases [ 49 , 50 ], etc. for various purposes.…”

“…Over the last few years, CMC-based hydrogels, films, or other hybrid materials have gained much interest in pharmaceutical applications, especially for drug delivery [ 51 , 52 ], drug emulsification [ 53 , 54 ], and stabilization purposes [ 55 , 56 ] due to their excellent biocompatibility, high stability, pH sensitivity, and binding capacity against pharmaceutically active compounds like drugs, enzymes. Moreover, CMC and its derivatives are used in textile digital printing due to their thickening and color sharpening feature [ 57 , 58 ], in textile weaving as sizing and finishing agents [ 59 , 60 ], and used in smart, antimicrobial, antiradical, antioxidant, or absorbent textiles because of their pH or thermosensitivity, hygienic, and hygroscopic features [ 30 , 31 , 32 , 61 , 62 , 63 ]. CMCs are used as various auxiliary agents like thickeners, emulsion stabilizers, adhesive stabilizers, and moisture binders in numerous food products and their packaging due to the odorless, tasteless, non-caloric, and physiologically inert properties [ 26 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 ].…”

Tensile Strength and Dispersibility of Pulp/Danufil Wet-Laid Hydroentangled Nonwovens

“…Due to their softness and high-water absorbency, hydroentangled nonwovens have been used in a wide range of areas, such as personal hygiene products, medical care, moist toilet tissues, and household wiping products [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]. However, the traditional disposable products are prone to clogging and blocking household pipes and waste-water systems after being discarded into toilets [9,10].…”