Thomas, S.; Kenny, J.... (2016). Revalorization of sunflower stalks as novel sources of cellulose nanofibrils and nanocrystals and their effect on wheat gluten bionanocomposite properties. Carbohydrate Polymers. 149:357-368. doi:10.1016Polymers. 149:357-368. doi:10. /j.carbpol.2016. Novel gluten based bionanocomposites reinforced with cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) and cellulose 17 nanocrystals (CNC) extracted from sunflower stalks by a steam explosion treatment and a 18 hydrolysis procedure, respectively, were prepared by casting/evaporation. The extracted cellulose 19 nanomaterials, both CNC and CNF, were embedded in gluten matrix and their effect was 20
investigated. Morphological investigations highlighted that gluten based bionanocomposites 21showed a homogenous morphology, the absence of visible cellulose nanoreinforcements, and the 22 presence of holes for Gluten_CNF nanocomposites. Gluten_CNF showed a reduction of water 23 vapour permeability coefficients but the values are higher respect to gluten reinforced with CNC. 24This behaviour could be related to the ability of CNC to increase the tortuous path of gas molecules. 25Moreover, the results from thermal, mechanical and barrier properties confirmed the strong 26 interactions obtained between CNC and gluten matrix during the process.
1.Introduction 34The development and use of green resources represent new objectives for reducing gas emissions 35 and consequent pollution while, in this context, lignocellulosic materials represent renewable 36 resources for production of fuel ethanol from sugars. Among lignocellulosic materials, the use of 37 agricultural residues is of particular interest because it has also the benefit of disposal of 38 problematic solid wastes which usually do not have any economic alternative. 39Sunflowers have been considered as one of the major sustainable lignocellulosic materials used not 40 only to extract oils but also for producing biofuels as alternative to fossil fuels (Vaithanomsat, 41 Chuichulcherm & Apiwatanapiwat, 2009; Berglund, 2007). Sunflowers are renewable and are 42 cultivated in large quantities (about 30-35 million metric tons) around the world; while sunflower 43 seeds represent the fourth source of oil in the world, heads, stalks and leaves remain unutilized after 44 harvesting . These residues are not eco-45 friendly because after harvesting they are typically burnt under not well-controlled conditions 46 causing a negative environmental impact. Every year, the volume of sunflower residues produced in 47 the world represents a huge environmental impact with 3-7 tonnes of dry matter/ha (Díaz, Cara, 48Ruiz, Pérez-Bonilla & Castro, 2011; Vaithanomsat, Chuichulcherm & Apiwatanapiwat, 2009.). For 49 these reasons, the attention of the scientific community is now oriented to the revalorization of 50 wastes after sunflower harvesting, and currently the most common use of residual stalks is for 51 bioethanol production (Jung, Yu, Eom & Hong, 2013). However, sunflower residues could be used 52 also as precursors fo...