Publications by authors named "Katie Copenhaver"
Lignin-containing cellulose nanofibrils (LCNFs) are mainly produced commercially from treated wood pulp, which can decrease some of the carbon-negative benefits of utilizing biomass feedstock. In this work, LCNFs are prepared from non-wood feedstocks, including agricultural residues such as hemp, wheat straw, and flax. These feedstocks allowed for the preparation of LCNFs with a variety of properties, including tailored hydrophobicity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMolecular-level design of alternative media for energy-saving pilot-scale fibrillation of nanocellulose.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
September 2024
Article Synopsis
- - The study explores the potential of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) as eco-friendly materials, highlighting their lightweight and biodegradable properties, making them suitable for next-generation composites and bioplastics.
- - Atomistic molecular dynamics simulations identified a NaOH and urea aqueous solution as an effective medium to reduce energy consumption during CNF production by about 21% compared to water, while maintaining similar properties.
- - The findings suggest a new approach for dispersing deprotonable polymers in manufacturing processes, combining computer simulations with pilot-scale experiments to enhance efficiency in the bioeconomy.
The production of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) continues to receive considerable attention because of their desirable material characteristics for a variety of consumer applications. There are, however, challenges that remain in transitioning CNFs from research to widespread adoption in the industrial sectors, including production cost and material performance. This Review covers CNFs produced from nonconventional fibrillation methods as a potential alternative solution.
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