Cellulose sheets made from micro/nanofibrillated fibers of bamboo, jute, and eucalyptus cellulose pulps

Authors: TONOLI, GUSTAVO - Federal University Of Lavras; SÁ, VÂNIA - Federal University Of Lavras; GUIMARÃES, MARIO - Universidade Federal De Minas Gerais; FONSECA, ALESSANDRA - Federal University Of Lavras; Glenn, Gregory - Greg; MOULIN, JORDÃO - Federal University Of Lavras; PANTHAPULAKKAL, SUHARA - University Of Toronto; SAIN, MOHINI - University Of Toronto; Wood, Delilah - De; Williams, Tina; Torres, Lennard; Orts, William

Submitted to: Cellulose Chemistry and Technology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/1/2019
Publication Date: 3/1/2019
Citation: Tonoli, G.H., Sá, V.A., Guimarães, M.J., Fonseca, A., Glenn, G.M., Moulin, J.C., Panthapulakkal, S., Sain, M., Wood, D.F., Williams, T.G., Torres, L.F., Orts, W.J. 2019. Cellulose sheets made from micro/nanofibrillated fibers of bamboo, jute, and eucalyptus cellulose pulps. Cellulose Chemistry and Technology. 53(3):291-305.

Interpretive Summary: Cellulose is a natural, abundant, renewable polymer that has many uses and can reduce or replace non-renewable resources made from petrochemicals. Particle-size reduction of cellulose fibers improves functionality compared with original fibers. However, environmentally friendly and cost-effective methods for production particle-size reduction need to be perfected in order to take full advantage of cellulose for use in advanced materials. Structural properties of high strength cellulose sheets made from micro/nanofibrils derived from bamboo, jute and eucalyptus using mechanical defibrillation were characterized and compared. Jute degraded to short fibrils rapidly at high temperatures. Cellulose sheets made from bamboo and jute micro/nanofibrils had higher flexural strength and energy to break than those made from eucalyptus. Eucalyptus sheets had poor performance (strength and water-resistance) probably due to incomplete defibrillation resulting in greater particle size distribution. Further development of the mechanical defibrillation process could lower the production costs of micro/nanofibrils and improve the performance of engineered cellulose-based materials.

Technical Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the properties of cellulose sheets made from fibrillated micro/nanofibrils of bamboo, jute and eucalyptus. Micro/nanofibrils obtained from alkaline-treated jute had higher crystalline fraction (CF) and crystallinity index (CI). The onset degradation temperature (Tonset) was very similar for all the micro/nanofibrils (from 316 °C to 323 °C). Defibrillated cellulose nanofibrils had an average diameter in the range of 30-50 nm. Cellulose sheets made of bamboo and jute micro/nanofibrils had higher bending strength, elastic modulus and energy to break than the sheets made of eucalyptus micro/nanofibrils. Compared to the bamboo and jute samples, the eucalyptus micro/nanofibril suspension had a greater amount of fiber debris, which may have contributed to higher apparent porosity, water adsorption and water solubility of the cellulose sheets. Further development of the mechanical defibrillation process could lower the production costs of micro/nanofibrils and improve the performance of engineered cellulose-based materials.