• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.79-85
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• 2024

We investigated the crystal structural property and chemical bonding nature of cellulose nanocrystal extracted directly from cotton cellulose using high-pressure homogenizer. The nanowire-like cellulose nanocrystals were randomly distributed in the form of a dense mesh. Based on calculating the interplanar distance of the Bragg-diffracted crystal plane observed through X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, it was found that the cellulose nanocrystals formed by high-pressure homogenizer had a monoclinc crystal structure, corresponding to the cellulose Iβ sub-polymorph. Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis for the quantitatively evaluation of the amorphous region in cellulose nanocrystals revealed that the crystallinity index of cellulose nanocrystals was calculated to be 53.06 %. The O/C ratio of the surface of cellulose nanocrystal was estimated to be 0.82. Further analysis showed that chemical bonds of C-C bond or C-H bond, C-O bond, O-C-O bond or C=O bond, and O-C=O bond were the main chemical bonding states of the cellulose nanocrystal surface.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.257-261
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• 2005

The microbial cellulose is in a form of three dimensional net structures that consists of 20~50 nm fibrils. It possesses high crystallinity and orientation. It is difficult to synthesize large amount of fibrous carbon nanomaterials by the carbonization process using raw materials such as polyacrylonitrile (PAN), regenerated cellulose (Rayon) and pitch. However, it seems possible thru the application of microbial cellulose as raw material. The application of such cellulose can be further extended to the synthesis of highly oriented graphite fiber. Out of three different cellulose-producing strains, G. xylinus ATCC11142 was chosen as it has the highest productivity (0.066 g dried cellulose/15 mL medium). Tar is often produced during the carbonization of cellulose that limits the formation fibrous structure of the carbonized sample. In order to solve such a problem, pre-studied purification methods of carbon nanotube such as liquid phase oxidation, gas phase oxidation and filtration associated with ultrasonication were applied at the carbonized cellulose. In that case. only by filtration associated with ultrasonication, improved the formation of fiber structure of the carbonized cellulose.

• Composites Research
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.126-131
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• 2023

Growing environmental concerns regarding pollution caused by conventional plastics have increased interest in biodegradable polymers as alternative materials. The purpose of this study is to develop a 100% biodegradable nanocomposite material by introducing organic nucleating agents into the biodegradable and thermoplastic resin, poly(lactic acid), to improve its properties. Accordingly, cellulose nanofibers, an eco-friendly material, were adopted as a substitute for inorganic nucleating agents. To achieve a uniform dispersion of cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) within PLA, the aqueous solution of nanofibers was lyophilized to maintain their fibrous shape. Then, they were subjected to primary mixing using a twin-screw extruder. Test specimens with double mixing were then produced by injection molding. Differential scanning calorimetry was employed to confirm the reinforced physical properties, and it was found that the addition of 1 wt% CNFs acted as a reinforcing material and nucleating agent, reducing the cold crystallization temperature by approximately 14℃ and increasing the degree of crystallization. This study provides an environmentally friendly alternative for developing plastic materials with enhanced properties, which can contribute to a sustainable future without consuming inorganic nucleating agents. It serves as a basis for developing 100% biodegradable green nanocomposites.

• Clean Technology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.124-131
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• 2021

As declarations of carbon neutrality are spreading throughout the world, much research is being conducted on biodegradable polymers. In this study, nanocellulose, which comprises the largest amount of natural polymer currently available in the world, was proposed as a substitute for non-biodegradable polymers. We chose to modify the surface functional group of crystalline nanocellulose using glycidoxypropyl trimethoxysilane (GPTMS), which is a silane coupling agent, and the product was then used to form a film with low density polyethylene (LDPE). We then conducted measurements using a Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FT-IR) in addition to measuring hydrophilic/lipophilicity of the surface functional group modification of crystalline nitrocellulose as well as that of a polymer composite using the hybrid nanocellulose (H-NC). For compatibility with petroleum-based polymers, the best tensile strength and transparency was found when the H-NC was reacted at pH 14 and 1 wt% compared with LDPE. From the test results, we found that it is possible to modify the surface functional groups of nanocellulose using a silane coupling agent. In addition, the high compatibility of nanocellulose with petroleum-based polymers is expected to help in reaching carbon neutrality by reducing the use of fossil fuels.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.156-163
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• 2012

This research has been carried out to investigate the characteristics of cellulose nanofibers manufactured from domestic lignocellulosic materials by mechanical grinding method. The continuous grinding process was effective for loosening cell wall structure, with increasing grinding time, much smaller nanofibers were observed. Filtration time was linearly increased with increasing grinding time for all experimental materials. Relative crystallinity of cellulose was not changed by grinding process, but increased by delignification treatment. Tensile property of fiber sheets was drastically improved with increasing grinding time. Fibers sheets obtained from delignified cone stalks showed an excellent tensile strength. Consequently, it is considered that this study presented some effective information for manufacturing cellulose nanofibers with domestic plantation resources.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.1-8
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• 2021

In this study, the water resistance and mechanical properties of heat-treated polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) films were investigated. PVA is the most commonly used synthetic biodegradable polymers owing to its excellent properties. However, the water/moisture sensitivity and relatively poor mechanical properties of PVA limits its applications. Although heat treatment is a conventionally used method to improve the mechanical strength and water resistance of PVA, the effectiveness of this method is insufficient. Therefore, CNC was used to further improve the mechanical properties and water resistance of the heat-treated PVA film. PVA/CNC nanocomposites containing CNC contents of 0, 1, 3, 5, and 10 wt% were fabricated using solvent casting and subsequent heat treatment. The mechanical properties and water resistance of PVA/CNC films were significantly improved. The tensile strength and wet strength of the PVA/CNC film with a CNC content of 5 wt% (PVA/CNC 5%) were 184.5% and 136.0% higher than those of the untreated PVA, respectively. In addition, the water absorption and solubility of PVA/CNC 5% were 56.6% and 68.2% lower than those of the untreated PVA.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.522-526
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• 2010

Bacterial cellulose is produced by the bacterium Gluconacetobacter xylinus, which forms a nanofibrous pellicle in its culture medium. We studied properties of the bacterial cellulose such as crystallinity, viscosity, morphology, and mechanical properties according to the carbon source. Static cultures of Gluconacetobacter sp. V6 were performed in three kinds of media: standard Hestrin-Schramm medium, and modified medium with either glycerol or molasses as carbon sources. Cell growth and cellulose yield were increased in the glycerol and molasses media. The culture in the glycerol medium improved the physical properties of cellulose such as crystallinity, intrinsic viscosity, and breaking stress. However, the culture in the molasses medium decreased crystallinity, crystallite size, and intrinsic viscosity of cellulose. In summary, the cellulose yield was remarkably improved in the molasses medium, but with inferior structural properties.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.268-277
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• 2017

In this study, lignocellulose nanofibrils (LCNFs) were prepared from Pussy willow wood powder by disk-milling after pretreatment using the cosolvent of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([EMIM]Ac) and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) with different mixing ratios for different time. All pretreated samples showed native cellulose I polymorph and cellulose crystallinity was lowest when cosolvent of DMF with 30% [EMIM]Ac was used. Average crystallite size of raw material and the pretreated product by MDF and its cosolvent with 10% [EMIM]Ac was found to be about 3.2 nm and decreased with increasing pretreatment time at the DMF cosolvent with 30% [EMIM]Ac. Defibrillation efficiency was improved by loosening wood cell wall structure by the pretreatment using co-solvent system of [EMIM]Ac and DMF.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.384-392
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• 2021

Growing pollution due to industrialization leads to difficulties in survival of mankind. Generation of clean water from wastewater by membrane separation process is emerging cost efficient technology. Membrane prepared from renewable resources are in lots of demand to reduce burden on synthetic polymers which is one of the source of environmental pollution. Bacterial cellulose (BC) is very pure and distinct form of cellulose nanofibrils (CNF). Nanopapers prepared from CNF are used ad ultrafiltration (UF) and nanofiltration (NF) membrane for different applications. High crystallinity of BC gives rise to excellent mechanical property, an essential criterion for wastewater treatment membrane. In this review, BC based membrane for application in dye, oil, heavy metal and chemical removal from wastewater is discussed.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.154-162
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• 2024

Anion exchange membranes (AEMs) are essential components in water electrolysis systems, serving to physically separate the generated hydrogen and oxygen gases while enabling the selective transport of hydroxide ions between electrodes. Key characteristics sought in AEMs include high ion conductivity and robust chemical and mechanical stability in alkaline. In this study, quaternized Poly(terphenyl piperidinium)/cellulose nanocrystals (qPTP/CNC) mixed matrix membrane was fabricated. The polymer matrix, PTP, was synthesized via super-acid polymerization, known for its excellent ion conductivity and alkaline durability. The qPTP/CNC membrane showed a dense and uniform morphology without significant voids or large aggregates at the polymer-nanoparticle interface. The qPTP/CNC membrane containing 2 wt% CNC demonstrated a high ion exchange capacity of 1.90 mmol/g, coupled with low water uptake (9.09%) and swelling ratio (5.56%). Additionally, the qPTP/CNC membrane showed significantly lower resistance and superior alkaline stability (384 hours at 50℃ in 1 M KOH) compared to the commercial FAA-3-50 membrane. These results highlight the potential of hydrophilic additive CNC in enhancing ion conductivity and alkaline durability of ion exchange membranes.