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    The chemical-free production of nanocelluloses from microcrystalline cellulose and their use as Pickering emulsion stabilizer

    Year: 2017

    Journal: Carbohydr. Polym., Volume 178, DEC 15, page 48–56

    Authors: Buffiere, Jean; Balogh-Michels, Zoltan; Borrega, Marc; Geiger, Thomas; Zimmermann, Tanja; Sixta, Herbert

    Organizations: Aalto University's Doctoral Programme in Chemical Technology; European COST Action [FP1205]

    Keywords: Microcrystalline cellulose; Nearcritical water; Microfluidization; Nanocellulose; Pickering emulsions

    This paper takes a comparative approach in characterizing two types of nano-scale cellulosic particles obtained using chemical-free pathways, either by nearcritical water treatment or by high-shear homogenization from the same microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). The nearcritical water treatment efficiently depolymerized cellulose, producing a solid precipitated fraction of low-molecular-weight material containing cellulose II, while homogenization mechanically deconstructed MCC without altering its molecular structure. Both pathways yielded nanocellulose-like materials yet with different morphologies. The mechanically produced, rod-like particles were obtained with high yield. In contrast, the hydrothermal precipitate exhibited more hydrophobic ribbon-like particles that provided a greater level of particle-particle interaction. Both materials successfully acted as stabilizers for oil-in-water Pickering emulsions; however, the hydrothermally-produced material exhibited superior performance, with stable emulsions obtained upon addition of as low as 1.0 wt.% cellulose. These two pathways are highly relevant for altering the structure and properties of MCC and for formulating new, sustainably produced nanocellulose-based materials.
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