Thermal stability of starch bionanocomposites films: Exploring the role of esterified cellulose nanofibers isolated from crop residue.

Thermal stability and degradation kinetics were studied for glycerol plasticized starch (GPS) nanocomposites reinforced with cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) extracted from wheat straw, a crop residue. To assess the effect of surface modifications on CNFs in improving thermal degradation behavior, three types of CNFs were used viz pristine (p-CNFs), esterified (m-CNFs) and a mixture of pristine and esterified (x-CNFs) in equal ratio. Three kinetics models Ozawa-Flynn, Freidman and Kissinger's were used to evaluate activation energy of thermal degradation for pristine and nanocomposite samples.

Isolation and characterization of microfibrillated cellulose and nanofibrillated cellulose with "biomechanical hotspots".

Waste biomass of two major milk weeds was separately given combination of chemical-mechanical treatments in order to expose natural cellulosic micro and nano-fibrillated structures (MFCs and NFCs). Compositional and FTIR analysis were initially used to confirm the removal of impurities. WA-XRD and FESEM analysis of MFCs further revealed presence of highly crystalline, fine-shaped materials that resemble carbonaceous structures.

Simultaneous extraction of lignin and cellulose nanofibrils from waste jute bags using one pot pre-treatment.

Cellulose nanofibrils and lignin were simultaneously isolated from waste jute bags using soda cooking pretreatment method. Soda cooking resulted in reduction of recalcitrance of lignocellulose biomass leading to hydrolysis of hemicellulose into sugars, which was subsequently washed, leaving a residue of cellulose and lignin.The chemical composition, yield of lignin and cellulose were assessed using TAPPI method and ASTM standards, respectively.

Fractionation and physicochemical characterization of lignin from waste jute bags: Effect of process parameters on yield and thermal degradation.

In this work lignin was extracted from waste jute bags using soda cooking method and effect of varying alkali concentration and pH on yield, purity, structure and thermal degradation of lignin were studied. The Lignin yield, chemical composition and purity were assessed using TAPPI method and UV-vis spectroscopy. Yield and purity of lignin ranged from 27 to 58% and 50-94%, respectively for all the samples and was maximum for 8% alkali concentration and at pH 2 giving higher thermal stability.

Surface functionalization of nanofibrillated cellulose extracted from wheat straw: Effect of process parameters.

Aggregates of microfibrillated cellulose isolated from wheat straw fibers were subjected to propionylation under different processing conditions of time, temperature and concentration. The treated fibers were then homogenized to obtain surface modified nanofibrillated cellulose. For varying parameters, progress of propionylation and its effects on various characteristics was investigated by FTIR, degree of substitution, elemental analysis, SEM, EDX, TEM, X-ray diffraction, static and dynamic contact angle measurements.

Video assessment of supraglottic airway orientation through the perilaryngeal airway in pediatric patients.

The COBRA perilaryngeal airway (PLA) is a new supraglottic airway device available for use in children. We studied the orientation of the larynx as viewed through the PLA using video obtained with a fiberoptic bronchoscope in 45 infants and children. Laryngeal view was scored, and position of the grill bars of the PLA and the epiglottis was assessed.