Cellulose Nanocrystals Obtained from Cynara Cardunculus and Their Application in the Paper Industry

Valentina Coccia, Franco Cotana, Gianluca Cavalaglio, Mattia Gelosia and Alessandro Petrozzi
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Valentina Coccia: CIRIAF, University of Perugia, via G. Duranti, 67, 06125 Perugia, Italy
Franco Cotana: CIRIAF, University of Perugia, via G. Duranti, 67, 06125 Perugia, Italy
Gianluca Cavalaglio: CIRIAF, University of Perugia, via G. Duranti, 67, 06125 Perugia, Italy
Mattia Gelosia: CIRIAF, University of Perugia, via G. Duranti, 67, 06125 Perugia, Italy
Alessandro Petrozzi: CIRIAF, University of Perugia, via G. Duranti, 67, 06125 Perugia, Italy

Sustainability, 2014, vol. 6, issue 8, 1-13

Abstract: Biorefinery aims at designing new virtuous and high-efficiency energy chains, achieving the combined production of biofuels (e.g., bioethanol) and biobased products. This emerging philosophy can represent an important opportunity for the industrial world, exploiting a new kind of nano-smart biomaterials in their production chains. This paper will present the lab experience carried out by the Biomass Research Centre (CRB) in extracting cellulose nanocrystals (NCC) from a pretreated ( via Steam Explosion ) fraction of Cynara cardunculus . This is a very common and invasive arboreal variety in central Italy. The NCC extraction methodology allows the separation of the crystalline content of cellulose. Such a procedure has been considered in the literature with the exception of one step in which the conditions have been optimized by CRB Lab. This procedure has been applied for the production of NCC from both Cynara cardunculus and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). The paper will discuss some of the results achieved using the obtained nanocrystals as reinforcing filler in a paper sheet; it was found that the tensile strength increased from 3.69 kg/15 mm to 3.98 kg/15 mm, the durability behavior (measured by bending number) changed from the value 95 to the value 141, and the barrier properties (measured by Gurley porosity) were improved, increasing from 38 s to 45 s.

Keywords: biobased product; biorefinery; cellulose nanocrystals; residual biomass; steam explosion; paper industry (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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