Eco-friendly production of cellulosic fibers from Scots pine wood and sustainable nanosilver modification: A path toward sustainability

This study presents a novel approach for the production of cellulosic fibers from scots pine wood and their subsequent surface modification with greenly synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), leading to remarkable color effects and improved functionalities, particularly enhanced thermal stability. The size distribution of the scots pine fiber (SPF)materials was determined through sieve analysis, revealing a conversion of scots pine particles from 1.25 mm to 0.8 mm in size. The AgNPs were biosynthesized in situ on the wood fibers using the same fiber as a sustainable stabilizing and reducing agent. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to investigate the morphologies of the control and AgNP-deposited samples, indicating a uniform distribution of nanosilver on the coated surfaces of the SPF material. The concentration of synthesized AgNPs on SPF was quantitatively measured using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) tests, ranging from 4149 ± 43 to 6329 ± 55 parts per million (PPM) depending on the AgNP concentration. The weight percentage of nanoparticles was determined by SEM-mediated energy-disruptive X-ray (EDX) analysis. Additional analyses, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) test was also conducted. Thermal stability tests demonstrated an improving trend correlated with increasing nanosilver loading in the modified SPF materials. The coefficients of variation (R2) exhibited a significant relationship between nanosilver loading and most color parameters. Overall, this research presents a pioneering approach for the eco-friendly production of cellulosic fibers from scots pine wood and sustainable synthesis of AgNPs onto defibrated fibers, thus establishing a new benchmark for sustainable manufacturing processes.