This study was aimed to examine the properties of yarn and fabric produced by mixing the cotton air suction fiber wastes obtained from spinning mills with different fibres. This would help to investigate the possibility of producing high-quality recycled products. The aim was also to determine how different fibres affect the quality of recycled products, and to investigate the potential for product diversity. In the study, different fibers such as TenceTM, Promodal, viscose, polyester, which are widely used in textile products, were preferred due to their positive properties in terms of fabric performance and comfort, as well as Outlast and super absorbent fiber (SAP, obtained from super absorbent polymer (C3H3NaO2)n)) were used. These fibers were blended with cotton air suction waste fiber generated during ring spun yarn production at a ratio of 10
Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), owing to their high specific surface area, outstanding mechanical properties, and intrinsic renewability, have shown great potential in functional polylactic acid (PLA) composites. However, the irreversible aggregation of CNCs that commonly occurs during drying and melt blending significantly reduce the comprehensive performance of the PLA composite. This study proposes a modification approach based on the introduction of long-alkyl side chains. This strategy exploits the thermally-activated segmental motion of these grafted chains under melt processing conditions to drive the dynamic nanoscale redispersion of CNCs, thereby preparing a highly processable “soft-agglomerated” powder. The results demonstrate that cetyl modification markedly weakened the hydrogen-bonding interactions among CNCs, enabling the formation of re-dispersible soft agglomerates during drying and thereby improving both powder processability and re-dispersibility. Within the PLA/CNC composite system, the mobility of cetyl chains during melt processing facilitated the movement of CNCs, leading to their more uniform dispersion at the nanoscale. As a result, the crystallinity degree of PLA-composites increased from 12.9
Microplastic fibre pollution from synthetic textile laundering represents a persistent and difficult-to-mitigate environmental challenge. Bio-based filtration materials capable of efficiently capturing fibrous microplastics while minimising environmental burden are therefore urgently needed. In this study, cellulose nanofibril (CNF) nanopapers derived from hemp and jute bast fibres were fabricated using an identical deep eutectic solvent (DES)–assisted shear mixing route and evaluated for polyester microplastic filtration using controlled suspensions prepared from commercial laundry wastewater. Despite identical processing conditions, hemp and jute exhibited distinct nanofibrillation behaviour arising from intrinsic differences in chemical composition. Hemp produced finer nanofibrils (12 ± 6.1 nm) and dense nanopaper networks with higher apparent density, lower porosity and high specific surface area (31.9 m2 g−1), whereas jute yielded coarser nanofibrils (28.9 ± 21.6 nm) and more open nanopaper structures characterised by higher pore volume with a surface area of 4.5 m2 g−1. Chemical and crystalline analyses confirmed preservation of cellulose I crystallinity alongside increased surface disorder and possible esterification during DES processing. Filtration experiments revealed that the number of nanopaper layers overwhelmingly governs filtration efficiency, with both hemp and jute achieving > 90
High-yield and ultra-pure rayon-based carbon fiber (RCF) mats were successfully fabricated via a synergistic catalytic pyrolysis strategy using ammonium persulfate (APS) and caprolactam (CPL), aiming to overcome the conventional trade-off between carbon yield and catalyst-derived impurities. The catalytic mechanism, pyrolysis behavior, and structural evolution and performance were systematically investigated. APS selectively oxidized C6 hydroxy groups of cellulose into carboxyl functionalities and generated an in situ acidic environment, which suppressed levoglucosan formation and reduced the apparent activation energy of pyrolysis. Under these conditions, CPL underwent acid-induced ring opening to form aminohexanoic acid intermediates that reacted with cellulose-derived species through Schiff-base condensation, leading to the formation of covalently cross-linked structures. This cooperative mechanism effectively inhibited depolymerization and enhanced carbon yield during thermal conversion. As a result, the R-C/A-2000 sample achieved a high carbon yield of 31.78
Viscose is advantageous with allowing air to be freely circulated, to keep the skin dry and cool especially in hot weathering. Such advantage is vital for avoiding the excessive feeling of humidity and sweating that could be uncomfortable in hot weather. Herein, a unique methodology is investigated for production of viscose-based clothes with anti-microbial and UV-protection performance via successive immobilization of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs). SeNPs were initially nucleated and subsequently immobilized within native and cationic viscose fabrics under the effect of hydrothermal conditions. Both water vapor and air permeability were insignificantly lowered from 15.2 cm3/cm2 sec 1748 g/m2 day for cationic viscose to 13.8 cm3/cm2 sec 1719 g/m2 day in the sample treated with the highest Se concentration. After 10 washing cycles, Selenium-cationized viscose (Se-C-viscose) showed good microbicide action, as; the reduction in microbial pathogens was 82
This study demonstrates the successful fabrication of highly conductive regenerated cellulose fibers (RCFs) through the proper mixing of single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) retaining the high quality at concentration of 1.0–3.0 wt
The paper investigates the effects of chemical surface treatments applied to Opuntia ficus indica fibers (OFIF) used as reinforcement in poly(lactide)(PLA)-based biocomposites. The fiber surface is modified using three different chemical treatments: alkaline, alkaline/silane, and combined alkaline/maleic anhydride treatments. PLA/OFIF biocomposites are elaborated by melt blending at 80/20 weight ratio. Morphology, mechanical performance, viscoelastic behavior, crystallinity, and wettability of the biocomposite samples were evaluated. Mechanical properties indicate that PLA/OFIF biocomposites treated with alkaline/silane and alkaline/maleic anhydride combinations exhibit a significant enhancement in tensile strength, reaching 91 and 95
Thin-film composite (TFC) membranes are widely used in forward osmosis (FO), but their performance is often hindered by the internal concentration polarization (ICP). Enhancing membrane hydrophilicity and increasing support layer (SL) porosity are effective strategies to mitigate this issue. In this study, a novel hydrogel-based TFC membrane was developed with a distributed hydrophilic/superhydrophilic support layer to improve water transport and reduce ICP. The membrane was fabricated by incorporating porous rice bran (RB) particles and coating superhydrophilic CaCO3 nanoparticles onto different regions of the SL, creating a gradient from the support to the active layer (AL). The optimized TFC-RB-CaCO3 membrane exhibited significantly enhanced porosity, superhydrophilicity (contact angle = 0°), and pure water permeability (PWP), leading to improved water transport. The FO water flux reached 45.8 L/m2 h, more than twice that of the pristine membrane (20.57 L/m2 h). Additionally, the A parameter (water permeability) increased more significantly than the B parameter (salt permeability), which is a favorable outcome for membrane performance. The modified membrane also showed slightly improved salt rejection due to its narrower mean pore size and a considerable reduction in the S-value, indicating lower ICP. These findings highlight that superhydrophilicity can significantly enhance FO membrane performance without compromising selectivity, making this an effective strategy for next-generation TFC membranes.
Bacterial cellulose (BC) has attracted considerable attention in biomedical research as a multifaceted, versatile biodegradable and biocompatible material with high porosity, excellent mechanical and tensile strength, high water-holding capacity and large surface area. However, instead of being a polymer of interest for healthcare applications, it lacks innate antibacterial properties. Researchers have employed several methodologies to incorporate antibacterial properties into BC, ranging from the use of metal nanoparticles to the application of commercial antibiotics. However, these methodologies come with various limitations (high cost, side effects, etc.). Probiotic bacterial cellulose (PBC), as a next-generation emerging antibacterial biopolymer, can fill this gap by combining the structural excellence of bacterial cellulose with the bioactivity of probiotic metabolites [bacteriocin and other exopolysaccharides (EPS) secreted by probiotic bacteria]. Therefore, in this work, PBC has been synthesized by in-situ co-culture of Komagataeibacter xylinus (K. xylinus), a BC-producing bacterium, with two different probiotic bacteria, Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) and Pediococcus pentosaceus (P. pentosaceus), having antibacterial properties against common infectious pathogens Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The structural and thermal properties of the newly developed biomaterial (PBC) are assessed using scanning electron microscope, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis, confirming its similarity with BC. To confirm the observed antibacterial property within PBC, L. plantarum and P. pentosaceus were allowed to grow individually in de Man, Rogosa and Sharpe medium, and the secretory metabolite (bacteriocin) was isolated. Bacteriocins are a large group of antibacterial protein compounds that have been isolated from both probiotic bacteria (L. plantarum and P. pentosaceus) and identified by gel permeation chromatography and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The antibacterial activity of all the PBC mats is evaluated by agar disc diffusion method, resulting in a significant inhibitory effect against the abovementioned pathogens (E. coli and S. aureus), attributed to the presence of bacteriocins inside the PBC matrix, which are released from probiotic bacteria during the PBC synthesis by the in-situ co-culture process. These findings make PBC a promising biomaterial for healthcare, which is synthesized by the combined action of BC producing bacteria and probiotic bacteria.
Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) exhibits excellent biocompatibility and water retention, yet its high hydrophilicity often leads to excessive swelling and poor mechanical stability in physiological environments, limiting its utility in topical skin therapies. In this study, we developed a robust, chemically crosslinked CMC-based hydrogel loaded with curcumin (Cur@CL) using natural lysine as a non-toxic crosslinker. This green crosslinking strategy significantly reinforced the hydrogel network, achieving a swelling ratio of 3074 ± 226
The increased interest in the development of sustainable materials for printed electronics necessitates durability studies in their operating environments. Hence, in this paper, the effects of photodegradation on five different nanocellulose and four reference substrates were examined. Changes in optical, surface, and mechanical properties were analyzed in detail by studying the color intensity, total color difference, contact angle, surface energy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and bending resistance of the substrates before and after photodegradation treatment. The nanocellulose substrates analyzed in this study were cellulose nanofibers (made using sodium washing, supermasscolloider, three passes in microfluidizer and cast drying) (CNF3Cs), acetylated cellulose nanofibers (ACNFs), cellulose nanofibers (made using six passes in microfluidizer, air pressure filtration, and hot pressing) (CNF6Hs), cellulose nanofibers produced using 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical (TEMPO)-mediated oxidization (TCNFs), and cellulose nanofibers containing lignin residuals made using TEMPO-mediated oxidation (LTCNFs). All examined properties changed significantly for CNF3C, LTCNF, and opaque poly(ethylene terephthalate) (oPET) substrates. The newspaper (NP) displayed the largest changes in all properties except for the bending resistance. CNF6H, TCNF, polyimide (PI), and transparent poly(ethylene terephthalate) (tPET) substrates demonstrated less degradation compared to the substrates mentioned above. The ACNF substrate did not show any notable changes during the photodegradation treatment. Thus, this study demonstrates that especially ACNF films could be suitable and durable alternatives to conventional plastic substrates, such as PET or PI, used in printed electronics.
This study aimed to develop an antibacterial, biodegradable food packaging material that meets the food industry’s demanding requirements while reducing its environmental impact. Developing starch-based composite films reinforced with the natural antibacterial agent Hibiscus sabdariffa L. extract and food-grade cellulose fiber (CF) is essential for improving the films’ mechanical properties and promoting sustainable food packaging. The starch-hibiscus films with and without CF showed high antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (22.0–23.7 mm) and Escherichia coli (18.0–20.7 mm), along with good antioxidant activity (78.8–80.0
Bamboo is a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics due to its rapid growth, superior mechanical properties, and excellent carbon sequestration capacity. However, the long-term performance of bamboo-based composites in humid environments remains a critical challenge, particularly regarding moisture-induced interfacial failure between bamboo and adhesives. This study investigates how interfacial molecular morphology evolves during water absorption and modulates the interface behavior of bamboo/epoxy in laminated bamboo, using both experimental and computational approaches. Results reveal that although water disrupts native hydrogen bonds within cellulose chains, cellulose microfibrils (CNFs) retain stiffness through bridging hydrogen bonds with water molecules. Furthermore, water-mediated bridging hydrogen bonds at the CNF/epoxy interface−stronger than the initial polar-polar interactions, along with intensified dipole-correlated interactions, significantly enhance interfacial bonding, resulting in a transient increase in flexural modulus. With continued moisture uptake, unstable gauche-trans and trans-gauche conformations increasingly dominate hydroxymethyl orientations, promoting weak polar-water interactions that disrupt interchain bonding, reduce crystallinity, and lower CNF stiffness. As inter-sheet cohesion deteriorates to the level of self-associated hydrogen bonds at the interface, cracks propagate into CNFs, shifting the failure mode from adhesive debonding to multilayer delamination. This work provides molecular-level insights into moisture-induced failure mechanisms and guides design of durable bamboo composites.
Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are nanoscale materials derived from agricultural/plant waste biomass, and have gained attention as a promising, environmentally sustainable reinforcement for bio-nanocomposite manufacturing. This review thoroughly examines the potential of CNCs derived from diverse agricultural/plant residues, elucidating their physical, chemical, thermomechanical, morphological, and microstructural characteristics. Different methods of extracting CNCs are critically reviewed, providing information about the pros and cons of each, with a focus on achieving the best CNC yield and quality. This study also provides a scientific discussion on how to modify CNCs and offers useful insights for enhancing the performance of biocomposites produced from them. Furthermore, utilizing several state-of-the-art modification and fabrication techniques improves their suitability in various domains. Additionally, it also looks at the scalability of CNCs production, identifying key challenges and discussing potential future industrial applications for a better understanding of the scope, contribution, selectivity, and applicability of these advanced materials. Finally, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of CNCs as a sustainable and high-performance reinforcement for biopolymer-based composites. Unlike earlier reviews, this work connects extraction, modification, and application strategies, providing an integrated perspective on both laboratory research and piloting implementation. Additionally, it highlights the potential application of CNC-based biocomposites in various industrial, engineering, and biomedical sectors as an eco-friendly alternative to hazardous fossil-based materials. Applications include industrial wastewater treatment, bioplastics, biocomposites, nanocatalysts manufacturing, biomedical tool preparation, medicinal dosage formulation, packaging material production, and other environmentally friendly engineering products. The goal is to achieve triple benefits, encompassing environmental, economic, and agro-industrial aspects, by advancing cutting-edge research for the next generation.
Nanocellulose (NC) has gained significant interest in recent years as a high-performance, biodegradable, and eco-friendly material for applications in electronics, catalysis, and renewable energy systems, owing to its abundance, high mechanical properties, and tunable surface chemistry. Incorporation of metals into the intrinsically insulating NC structure can improve its electrical conductivity. In this study, the atomic-scale interactions of copper-modified Iβ-nanocellulose derived from cotton were explored using Density Functional Theory (DFT) simulations and compared with experimentally obtained copper incorporated NC (10, 25, and 50 wt
Cellulose-based foams have received increasing attention in sustainable materials due to their biodegradability and environmental friendliness. However, the poor compressive resilience and insufficient structural stability caused by the dynamic hydrogen bond between cellulose molecular chains severely restrict their applications in flexible sensing. In this study, a synergistic strategy combining Fe3⁺ cross-linking and fines reinforcement is successfully developed. Specifically, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) serves as the matrix, which is combined with fines to reinforce the network structure. Fines are fragmented microscale pulp fractions separated from beaten bleached softwood pulp after screening with a 200-mesh sieve. And carbon black (CB) is introduced to enhance the conductivity, while Fe3⁺ is introduced for cross-linking to further strengthen the stability of materials, thus yielding the multifunctional CMC/fines/CB/Fe3⁺ composite foams. The resulting foams possess excellent compressive resilience, with a height retention rate of 89.25
The urgent demand for efficient carbon capture technologies has sparked the search for simple, scalable materials with tailored sorption properties. In this study, we demonstrate that unmodified cellulose acetate (CA) nanofiber membranes can serve as effective CO2 sorbents at room temperature, offering a low-cost and environmentally friendly alternative to chemically modified polymeric systems. The distinct wrinkled morphology of the CA nanofibers achieved through targeted electrospinning conditions (solvent selection and high humidity) enhances the surface area and contributes to a CO2 sorption capacity of up to 2.14 mmol/g, comparable to that of more complex porous materials. Beyond single-material systems, we emphasize the often-overlooked role of matrix–additive compatibility in composite membranes. Using a CA/β-zeolite system as a case study, we show that specific interactions between the polymer matrix and active phase–β- ammonium zeolite can entirely suppress CO2 sorption instead of the assumed synergy of sorption properties for both components. The cellulose-based support was chosen for its biodegradability and biocompatibility, further supporting its use in sustainable technologies. To address the stability of modifying agents, we introduce a sandwich-type nanofiber membrane architecture (CA/Zeolite/CA) in which active nanocrystals–β-zeolites are embedded and fixed within layered structures. However, the sandwich structure of the membrane in this case indicated a negative effect of the mutual interaction of the CA carrier and β-ammonium zeolites on the sorption capacity of the composite membrane. Overall, the combination of simplicity, performance, and green chemistry makes CA nanofiber membranes a promising candidate for scalable and sustainable CO2 capture.
The development of sustainable materials with active functionalities is crucial for advancing a circular economy. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), derived from the most abundant biopolymer, offer a renewable and biocompatible platform for such materials. In this work, CNCs were chemically modified with imidazolium and triazole-imidazolium cations to create sustainable antimicrobial agents. The strategies involved chlorination of CNCs, followed by two approaches, i) substitution with N-methyl imidazolium (MI) groups to obtain CNC-MI, or ii) a click chemistry reaction for triazole-imidazolium (TrMI) modification to obtain CNC-TrMI. The analysis of the modified CNCs using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), elemental analysis, and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) confirmed the successful modifications, resulting in CNC-MI showing a 30
Powdered metal organic frameworks (MOFs) face intrinsic challenges in stability, recovery, and processability, which limit their translation into practical water treatment systems. Here, we develop a macroscale Fe-based metal–organic framework (MIL-101(Fe)) based catalyst, MIL-101(Fe)@WA, fabricated through a facile in situ growth strategy that anchors MIL-101(Fe) in a distributed manner onto a sustainable, delignified cellulose wood-aerogel (WA) support. Leveraging the natural 3D microchannels and light-scattering properties of the cellulose, the resulting hierarchical composite exhibits improved 22d light absorption, and a narrowed bandgap (2.30–1.86 eV). This is accompanied by enhanced charge separation, as evidenced by reduced photoluminescence emission and lower charge-transfer resistance, supporting visible-light activation of peroxydisulfate (PS). Under optimized conditions, the MIL-101(Fe)@WA/PS/Vis system achieves 92.7
Moulded fibre is emerging as a sustainable alternative to single-use plastic items, commonly used for food and non-food packaging. Yet its mechanical properties are often inferior to oriented paper products, due to the limited fibre alignment during forming. This study introduces a method for characterising fibre orientation (FO) within moulded fibre products, enabling analysis of pulp flow patterns and turbulence during the production of moulded fibre items. The fibre alignment is characterised by sheet splitting the samples using an automated sheet splitter, and high-resolution scans of the split layers were analysed using MATLAB Structure Tensor analysis to determine the fibre orientation (FO) in the X and Y directions. The MATLAB analyses provided FO distribution across layers, in the Z-direction and offered insights into X and Y directional alignment. Outputs included visual heatmaps using a block approach and quantitative metrics. This approach enables efficient, detailed FO characterisation throughout the layers of a product, allowing for further improvement of moulded fibre properties. Validation results showed accurate and sensitive results. This method introduces opportunities to understand and control fibre alignment, a key step toward improving the strength properties of moulded fibre packaging.
