Valorization of Acai Bagasse into Cellulose Nanofibers/Sodium Alginate Aerogels

Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) play a crucial role in enhancing the properties of aerogels, making them indispensable in the pharmaceutical sector. This study successfully produced acai bagasse-based CNFs/sodium alginate (SA) aerogels by extracting CNFs from acai biomass through ammonium persulfate oxidation. Cylindrical hydrogels were formed from a CNF/SA solution with varying CNFs content and dried using supercritical CO2. The aerogels underwent physicochemical analyses, and the swelling behaviors of the hydrogels were examined both experimentally and theoretically, considering fluid motion and elastic deformation. The swelling ratio's theoretical forecasts aligned closely with the actual experimental results. It showed a rapid rise at the beginning of the swelling process, followed by a consistent upward pattern with a diminishing rate until eventually reaching a stable state. The aerogels incorporating CNFs in the range of 0.0 to 0.3% exhibited low swelling ratios (ranging from 105 to 120%), along with high Young's modulus (above 10 MPa) and storage modulus (7 to 50 MPa). These findings indicate the promising potential of these aerogels for biomedical applications, specifically in wound closure and the repair of load-bearing tissues. [Graphics] .