Nanocellulose-Enhanced, Easily Processable Cellulose-Based Flexible Pressure Sensor for Wearable Epidermal Sensing.

Flexible pressure sensors (FPSs) based on biomass materials have gained considerable attention for their potential in wearable electronics, human-machine interaction, and environmental protection. Herein, flexible silver nanowire-dual-cellulose paper (SNdCP) containing common cellulose fibers, cellulose nanofibers (CNFs), and silver nanowires (AgNWs) for FPSs was assembled by a facile papermaking strategy. Compared with bacterial cellulose (BC) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), CNFs possess better dimensions and reinforcement, which enables the composite paper to exhibit better mechanical properties (tensile stress of 164.

A triple-crosslinked, self-healing, polyvinyl alcohol/nanocellulose hydrogel for versatile sensing applications.

Flexible conductive hydrogels (FCHs) have attracted widespread interest as versatile monoliths that can be intricately integrated with various ingredients boasting multiple functionalities. The chemicophysical properties of FCHs cover a wide range, which significantly vary in their building blocks. However, achieving both favorable mechanical strength and high conductivity simultaneously through a facile approach remains a challenge.

Cationic cellulose nanofibers/chitosan auxiliary-dominated win-win strategy for paper yarn with superior color and physical performances.

The colored and high-saline effluents during the traditional dyeing process poses serious environmental challenge. In our study, an eco-friendly cationic cellulose nano-fiber/chitosan (CCNF/CS) binary versatile auxiliary was designed for the neutral salt-free dyeing and physical enhancement of paper by mixing with pulp simply. Profiting from the rich cationic binding sites of CCNF/CS (Charge density: 3749.

Chitosan-graft-poly(lactic acid)/CD-MOFs degradable composite microspheres for sustained release of curcumin.

The solubility of cyclodextrin metal-organic frameworks (CD-MOFs) in aqueous media making it not suitable as sustained-release drug carrier. Here, curcumin-loaded CD-MOFs (CD-MOFs-Cur) was embedded in chitosan-graft-poly(lactic acid) (CS-LA) via a solid-in-oil-in-oil (s/o/o) emulsifying solvent evaporation method forming the sustained-release composite microspheres. At CS-LA concentration of 20 mg/mL, the composite microspheres showed good sphericity.

Molecularly designed and synthesized of bright blue nitrogen-doped lignin-derived carbon dots applied in printable anti-counterfeiting.

With the increased demand for green and sustainable development, the research of advanced biomass-based carbon dots (CDs) has drawn growing attention. Herein, a one-step green solvent integration strategy-assisted solvothermal method to preparing CDs from hydrolyzed lignin and ethylenediamine (EDA) in formamide (FA) was developed. The Schiff reaction between FA and EDA contributes to the formation of -C-N groups, further inducing the high photoluminescence quantum yield (up to 42.

A bacterial cellulose-based separator with tunable pore size for lithium-ion batteries.

Bacterial cellulose (BC) lithium-ion batteries separators possess outstanding thermal dimensional stability and electrolyte wettability, but theirs nano diameter and high aspect ratio lead to poor porosity and pore size uniformity of dense BC separators, limiting the Li transmission in the separators. In this paper, chitosan (CS) with different molecular weight was grafted onto BC (named OBCS), and a high-performance OBCS separator with excellent pore structure and tunable pore size was prepared by simple suction filtration. The spacing and dispersion uniformity of OBCS were improved by the CS grafted on BC surface, thus improving the pore structure and porosity of OBCS separators.

An easily processable silver nanowires-dual-cellulose conductive paper for versatile flexible pressure sensors.

To date, flexible pressure sensors built on silver nanowires (AgNWs) have attracted tremendous attention, owing to their versatile applications in wearable, human-interactive, health-monitoring devices. Cellulose and its derivatives, which show great promise in serving flexible pressure sensors as the desired substrate due to their natural abundance, biocompatibility, easy processibility, and low costs. Herein, we reported a rational strategy to design a silver nanowires-dual-cellulose conductive paper.

Encapsulation of curcumin in CD-MOFs: promoting its incorporation into water-based products and consumption.

Curcumin has received considerable interest in functional food areas due to its variety of biological effects. However, its utilization is often limited by its insolubility and instability in aqueous solutions. Herein, curcumin was encapsulated in γ-cyclodextrin metal-organic frameworks (CD-MOFs) to achieve immediate release and rapid dissolution in water just by gentle stirring due to the dissociation of CD-MOFs.

Asymmetric wetting and antibacterial composite membrane obtained by spraying bacterial cellulose grafted with chitosan for sanitary products surface layers.

The asymmetric wetting membranes have attracted intense attention in liquid directional transportation. However, it is a huge challenge to prepare surface layer membrane for sanitary products with antibacterial and asymmetric wettability by a simple method. Herein, the bacterial cellulose grafted with chitosan (BC-CS) was used as the hydrophilic agent to modify polypropylene nonwoven fabric (PPF) substrate via easy and effective one-sided layer-by-layer spraying to prepare the asymmetric wetting and antibacterial composite membrane (BC-CS/PPF).

Development and characterization of bilayer films based on pea starch/polylactic acid and use in the cherry tomatoes packaging.

Renewable and biodegradable packaging materials are desired for numerous applications. Pea starch (PS) and polylactic acid (PLA) are promising alternatives to petrochemical-based polymers except that their phase separation causes poor mechanical properties. To surmount this problem, PS/PLA films with a double-layer structure were designed.

Nano-sized fibrils dispersed from bacterial cellulose grafted with chitosan.

Bacterial cellulose is an attractive material due to its outstanding biocompatibility, nanometer size and high purity, but the difficulty of dispersing has restricted its wide applications. In this study, chitosan was grafted onto bacterial cellulose by Schiff base reaction, and then obtained the nano-sized fibrils by ultrasonic dispersion process. Different concentrations of NaIO with various time and temperature were applied, and the maximum grafting amount of chitosan was 12.

Physicochemical Properties of Cellulose Separators for Lithium Ion Battery: Comparison with Celgard2325.

High electrolyte wettability, thermal dimensional stability, and tensile strength are prerequisites for implementing separators in practical applications. In this study, we report on the discovery of nanofibril membranes derived from various plant fibers commonly used in the papermaking industry, for low cost and higher performances than the commercially available Celgard2325 in regard to the application of separators for lithium-ion batteries. Nanofibril membranes showed water contact angles as low as 18°, negligible size change at a heating temperature of 160 °C for 120 min, and tensile strength up to 137.

Physicochemical properties of biochar derived from anaerobically digested dairy manure.

Biochar was produced from anaerobically digested dairy manure under different processing temperatures (300, 600 and 1000 °C). The process could transform the biomass waste to high-value-added biochar products in high efficiency as well as reduce the manure biological pollution to the environment. By the results of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) two kinetic models (FWO and Starink) were used to evaluate the activation energy.

Green synthesis of bacterial cellulose via acetic acid pre-hydrolysis liquor of agricultural corn stalk used as carbon source.

Herein, bacterial cellulose (BC) was synthesized by acetobacter xylinum via organic acid pre-hydrolysis liquor of agricultural corn stalk used as carbon source. Acetic acid was applied to pretreat the corn stalk, then, the prehydrolysate was detoxified by sequential steps of activated carbon and ion exchange resin treatment prior to use as carbon source to cultivate acetobacter xylinum. Moreover, the recovery of acetic acid was achieved for facilitating the reduction of cost.

Mn/sepiolite as the heterogeneous ozonation catalysts applied to the advanced treatment of regenerated-papermaking wastewater.

Herein a Mn-deposited sepiolite catalyst was obtained through a facile co-precipitation method, and then used as the heterogeneous ozonation catalysts applied to the tertiary treatment of regenerated-papermaking wastewater. During the process, the as-prepared catalyst was endowed with higher Brunauer-Emmett-Teller specific surface area of 412.3 m/g compared to 124.

Preparation of silver nano-particles immobilized onto chitin nano-crystals and their application to cellulose paper for imparting antimicrobial activity.

Immobilized silver nano-particles (Ag NPs) possess excellent antimicrobial properties due to their unique surface characteristics. In this paper, immobilized silver nano-particles were synthesized in the presence of chitin nano-crystals (CNC) based on the Tollens mechanism (reduction of silver ion by aldehydes in the chitosan oligosaccharides (COS)) under microwave-assisted conditions. The prepared Ag NPs-loaded CNC nano-composites were then applied onto the paper surface via coating for the preparation of antibacterial paper.

Effect of depth beating on the fiber properties and enzymatic saccharification efficiency of softwood kraft pulp.

Commercial bleached softwood kraft pulp was mechanically fibrillated by a PFI-mill with beating revolution from 5000 to 30,000 r. The extent of fibrillating on the pulp was evaluated by beating degree, fiber morphological properties (fiber length, width, coarseness and curls index), water retention value (WRV) and physical properties of paper made from the pulp. Depth beating process significantly affected the pulp fibrillations as showed by the decreased fiber length and width as well as the SEM analysis, but the effects were limited after beating revolution of 15,000.

Synthesis and characterization of chitosan derivatives with dual-antibacterial functional groups.

With the aim to discover chitosan derivatives with enhanced antibacterial activity and good water solubility compared with natural chitosan, a novel O-quaternary ammonium N-acyl thiourea chitosan (OQCATUCS) bearing double antibacterial groups with different degrees of substitution has been synthesized. The derivative was characterized by FTIR, (13)C NMR, elemental analysis, XRD, TGA and zeta potential analysis. Water solubility was also investigated.

Stimulus-responsive polymeric micelles for the light-triggered release of drugs.

Ethyl cellulose macroinitiator was firstly synthesized by direct acylation of ethyl cellulose with 2-bromopropionyl bromide in a room temperature. And a light-responsive triblock copolymer of ethyl cellulose-g-poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-g-poly(spiropyran ether methacrylate) (EC-g-PHEMA-g-PSPMA) was prepared by atom transfer radial polymerization. The amphiphilic structure of the copolymer enabled it to aggregate into spherical micelles in aqueous solution with an average diameter of 100 nm.

Efficient one-pot synthesis of 5-chloromethylfurfural (CMF) from carbohydrates in mild biphasic systems.

5-Halomethylfurfurals can be considered as platform chemicals of high reactivity making them useful for the preparation of a variety of important compounds. In this study, a one-pot route for the conversion of carbohydrates into 5-chloromethylfurfural (CMF) in a simple and efficient (HCl-H3PO4/CHCl3) biphasic system has been investigated. Monosaccharides such as D-fructose, D-glucose and sorbose, disaccharides such as sucrose and cellobiose and polysaccharides such as cellulose were successfully converted into CMF in satisfactory yields under mild conditions.