Efficient extraction of nanocellulose from lignocellulose using aqueous butanediol fractionation to improve the performance of waterborne wood coating

Xiaoxue Song; Zhipeng Zhu; Sai Tang; Xiang Chi; Guangping Han; Wanli Cheng

doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2023.121347

Efficient extraction of nanocellulose from lignocellulose using aqueous butanediol fractionation to improve the performance of waterborne wood coating

Carbohydr Polym. 2023 Dec 15:322:121347. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2023.121347. Epub 2023 Aug 29.

Authors

Xiaoxue Song¹, Zhipeng Zhu¹, Sai Tang¹, Xiang Chi¹, Guangping Han¹, Wanli Cheng²

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Bio-based Material Science and Technology, Northeast Forestry University, Ministry of Education, Harbin 150040, PR China.
² Key Laboratory of Bio-based Material Science and Technology, Northeast Forestry University, Ministry of Education, Harbin 150040, PR China. Electronic address: nefucwl@nefu.edu.cn.

PMID: 37839849
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2023.121347

Abstract

The highly efficient extraction of cellulose from lignocellulose with an excellent yield of 95.2 % and purity of 96.7 % was demonstrated using acid-catalyzed fractionation with aqueous butanediol. This cellulose was subsequently transformed into cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) with specific dimensions and surface functional groups through various chemomechanical treatments. The average diameters of CNFs and CNCs produced by sulfuric acid hydrolysis-ultrasonication and deep eutectic solvent treatment-ultrasonication (DES-CNCs) were 29.7, 21.9 and 17.3 nm, respectively. The DES-CNCs were obtained in a good yield of 71 ± 1.27 wt% and exhibited a high zeta potential of -33.5 ± 2.51 mV following posthydrolysis and esterification during the DES treatment. These CNFs and CNCs were used as nanofillers in a waterborne wood coating (WWC), which significantly improved its dynamic viscosity and storage modulus. The addition of these materials also enhanced the mechanical strength of the WWC but had little effect on transmittance. Glossiness, hardness, abrasion resistance and adhesion strength were evaluated, and the DES-CNCs provided the greatest improvements at a low concentration. A plausible reinforcement mechanism was presented. This work provided an efficient cellulose extraction method and detailed structure elucidation of the nanocellulose together with suggestions for value-added applications of cellulosic nanofillers for reinforcing WWC.

Keywords: Bio-based nanofillers; Cellulose extraction; Lignocellulose; Nanocellulose; Waterborne wood coating.