Can TEMPO-Oxidized Cellulose Nanofibers Be Used as Additives in Bio-Based Building Materials? A Preliminary Study on Earth Plasters.

Interest towards cellulose nanofibers obtained from virgin and waste sources has seen a significant growth, mainly thanks to the increasing sensitivity towards the concept of circular economy and the high levels of paper recycling achieved in recent years. Inspired by the guidelines of the green building industry, this study proposes the production and characterization of TEMPO-oxidized and homogenized cellulose nanofibers (TOHO CNF) from different sources and their use as additives for earth plasters on two different raw earth samples, characterized by geotechnical laboratory tests and mineralogical analysis: a high-plasticity clay (T2) and a medium-compressibility silt (ABS). Original sources, including those derived from waste (recycled cardboard and paper mill sludge), were characterized by determining chemical content (cellulose versus ashes and lignin) and fiber morphology.

Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Cellulose Nanofibres Production Routes from Virgin and Recycled Raw Materials.

Nanocellulose-based materials are attracting an increasing interest for the positive role they could play in sustainable development; being originated from renewable resources. Moreover, cellulose has a high potential of recycling from both post-consumer waste and industrial waste. Both factors, i.

PLA coated paper containing active inorganic nanoparticles: Material characterization and fate of nanoparticles in the paper recycling process.

For paper and paperboard packaging, recyclability plays an important role in conserving the resources and reducing the environmental impacts. Therefore, when it comes to the nano-enabled paper packaging material, the recyclability issue should be properly addressed. This study represents our first report on the fate of nanomaterials in paper recycling process.

Contact Antimicrobial Surface Obtained by Chemical Grafting of Microfibrillated Cellulose in Aqueous Solution Limiting Antibiotic Release.

Contact active surfaces are an innovative tool for developing antibacterial products. Here, the microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) surface was modified with the β-lactam antibiotic benzyl penicillin in aqueous medium to prepare antimicrobial films. Penicillin was grafted on the MFC surface using a suspension of these nanofilaments or directly on films.

Hydrophobic properties conferred to Kraft pulp by a laccase-catalysed treatment with lauryl gallate.

Hydrophobic properties were conferred to a high-lignin-content Kraft pulp by a laccase-catalysed treatment in the presence of lauryl gallate (LG). The treatment resulted in a two-fold increase in contact angle and conferred water absorption resistance to the pulp. Kappa number was increased, indicating that some phenolic compounds were incorporated in the pulp.

Structural characterization and antioxidant activity evaluation of lignins from rice husk.

In recent years, lignin and extractives from herbaceous plants and crops are receiving increasing attention for their renewability and large annual biomass stock. It is worth noting that only a few studies deal with the chemical characterization of rice husk, a side product of one of the most important crops with regard to human nutrition. Thus, in this study lignin from rice husk was isolated and characterized.