Preparation of cellulose nanocrystals from lignin-rich reject material for oil emulsification in an aqueous environment

Abstract

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) with amphiphilic features were used in oil drop stabilization in diesel oil-in-water (o/w) emulsion. The functionalized CNCs were synthesized from a lignin-rich reject cellulose source from the pulp and paper industry, i.e., the non-bleached fines fractions of carton pulp. Partial periodate-chlorite oxidation, which was followed by reductive butylamination, was used to obtain surface-modified amphiphilic CNCs. All studied CNCs prevented droplet coalescence by stabilizing oil droplets in the emulsion thus resulting in stable o/w Pickering-like emulsions. CNCs from the fines fractions at concentrations 0.05-0.1% (weight by weight, w/w) provided high stability against creaming (i.e., phase separation), and they did not de-emulsify at low temperatures since the oil droplet size remained small at +5 °C at a 0.05% (w/w) CNC concentration. Salinity improved the stability against creaming with the reference chemical pulp CNC, but negatively affected the emulsion creaming rate for CNCs that had a higher level of lignin. However, the nonbleached fines fraction of the pulp may provide one potential and cost-effective raw material source for the development of a novel bio-based chemical.

Emulsion Stabilization with Functionalized Cellulose Nanoparticles Fabricated Using Deep Eutectic Solvents

“…Cellulose nanocrystals are typically produced by acid hydrolysis, and applications where they can be used are for example biomedical, wastewater treatment or in electronics [ 39 , 40 ]. Recent research have extended the use of CNCs in oil and gas industry, where cellulose-based nanoparticles can stabilize the hydrophobic oil molecules on water environment making the natural biodegradation of oil by marine microbes more efficient [ 32 , 41 , 42 ]. CNFs, that are produced through enzyme or other pre-treatment aided mechanical system (for example homogenizer, grinder or microfluidizator) possess unique characteristics, such as high aspect ratio and web-like structures, which enable its use in aerogels, films and membranes among other new applications like energy storage materials [ 43 ].…”

Topochemical Design of Cellulose-Based Carriers for Immobilization of Endoxylanase

“…In earlier work, Lindh and co-workers demonstrated that amine cross-linked beads could be fabricated from periodate oxidized nanocellulose . Others have decorated dialdehyde cellulose with ethylenediamine, guanidine, and monoamines. , To ensure that just one end of the diamine was attached to the bead interface, the activation of the beads was performed in a large excess of 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane, 4,4-oxydianiline, and 4,4′-sulfonyldianiline. By grafting different diamine spacer arms on the aldehyde-activated bead surface, the objective of this work is to study the effect of the spacer arm on enzyme activity and selectivity.…”

Mechanochemical and thermal succinylation of softwood sawdust in presence of deep eutectic solvent to produce lignin-containing wood nanofibers

“…Cellulose is described as an amphiphilic material that is able to interact with both the aqueous and oil phases (Costa et al 2019). Chemical modification has been used to enhance the amphiphilic properties of the cellulose nanomaterial (Visanko et al 2014;Ojala et al 2018), and nanofibers produced from partially delignified wood has been used in as reinforcement of polystyrene via emulsion polymerization (Ballner et al 2016). Here, the soybean oil represents the vegetable oil used, for example, in medical application in emulsion (Dai et al 2016), whereas the MMA is a common monomer for emulsion polymerization (Ballard et al 1984).…”