Issue 4, 2013
From the journal:

Soft Matter

The role of hemicellulose in nanofibrillated cellulose networks

Suvi Arola,†*ab   Jani–Markus Malho,a   Päivi Laaksonen,a   Martina Lillea  and  Markus B. Linder*ac  

* Corresponding authors

a VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Bio and Process Technology, Tietotie 2, Espoo P.O. Box 1000, FI-02044 VTT, Finland
E-mail: Markus.Linder@vtt.fi
Fax: +358 20 722 7071
Tel: +358 400 971 207

b Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University School of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 15100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland

c Department of Biotechnology and Chemical Technology, Aalto University School of Chemical Technology, P.O. Box 16100, FI-00076 Aalto, Finland
E-mail: Markus.Linder@aalto.fi
Tel: +358 50 431 5525

Abstract

Cellulose nanofibrils show remarkable properties with applications in several fields of materials science, such as for composites, hydrogels, aerogels, foams, and coatings. Cellulose nanofibrils are typically produced by mechanical and enzymatic processing leading to fibrils having a width in the nanometer range and very high aspect ratios. The formation of percolating networks and interactions between fibrils lead to useful properties in for example gel formation and composites. In this work we studied how the residual xylan that is found in cellulose nanofibrils that have been produced from hardwood pulp affects these properties. We used enzymatic hydrolysis to specifically remove xylan and studied rheological properties, morphological features, and properties of paper-like films of cellulose nanofibrils. We found that removal of xylan enhances the formation of fibril networks, resulting in both stiffer gels and stronger films. However xylan also stabilizes the fibrils against flocculation. Also the history of processing of the preparations affects the results significantly.

Graphical abstract: The role of hemicellulose in nanofibrillated cellulose networks

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Article information

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1039/C2SM26932E
Article type
Paper
Submitted
20 Aug 2012
Accepted
12 Nov 2012
First published
30 Nov 2012

Soft Matter, 2013,9, 1319-1326

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The role of hemicellulose in nanofibrillated cellulose networks

S. Arola, J. Malho, P. Laaksonen, M. Lille and M. B. Linder, Soft Matter, 2013, 9, 1319 DOI: 10.1039/C2SM26932E

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