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    The Hydrophobicity of Lignocellulosic Fiber Network Can Be Enhanced with Suberin Fatty Acids

    Year: 2019

    Journal: Molecules, Volume 24, DEC

    Authors: Korpinen, Risto I.; Kilpelainen, Petri; Sarjala, Tytti; Nurmi, Maristiina; Saloranta, Pauliina; Holmbom, Thomas; Koivula, Hanna; Mikkonen, Kirsi S.; Willfor, Stefan; Saranpaa, Pekka T.

    Organizations: Green chemistry from forest: innovative processes and products and Biopolyester based hydrophobic and antimicrobial coating of lignocellulosic materials, Natural Resources Institute Finland's strategic funding

    Keywords: Birch outer bark; suberin fatty acids; lignocellulosic fiber network; hydrophobicity; contact angle; scanning electron microscope; time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry

    Suberin fatty acids were extracted from outer bark of Silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) using an isopropanolic sodium hydroxide solution. Laboratory sheets composed of lignocellulosic fiber networks were prepared from unbleached and unrefined softwood kraft pulp and further impregnated with suberin fatty acid monomers and cured with maleic anhydride in ethanol solution. The treatment resulted in hydrophobic surfaces, in which the contact angles remained over 120 degrees during the entire measurement. The fiber network also retained its water vapor permeability and enhanced fiber-fiber bonding resulted in improved tensile strength of the sheets. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed that the curing agent, together with suberin fatty acids, was evenly distributed on the fiber surfaces and smoothing occurred over the wrinkled microfibrillar structure. High concentrations of the curing agent resulted in globular structures containing betulinol derivates as revealed with time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). Also, the larger amount of suberin fatty acid monomers slightly impaired the optical properties of sheets.
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