title: Enzymatic Hydrophobic Modification of Jute Fibers via Grafting to Reinforce Composites.
abstract: Horseradish peroxidase (HRP)/H2O2 system catalyzes the free-radical polymerization of aromatic compounds such as lignins and gallate esters. In this work, dodecyl gallate (DG) was grafted onto the surfaces of lignin-rich jute fabrics by HRP-mediated oxidative polymerization with an aim to enhance the hydrophobicity of the fibers. The DG-grafted jute fibers and reaction products of their model compounds were characterized by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results clearly indicated the grafting of DG to the jute fiber by HRP. Furthermore, the hydrophobicity of jute fabrics was determined by measuring the wetting time and static contact angle. Compared to the control sample, the wetting time and static contact angle of the grated fabrics changed from ~1 s to 1 h and from ~0° to 123.68°, respectively. This clearly proved that the hydrophobicity of jute fabrics improved considerably. Conditions of the HRP-catalyzed DG-grafting reactions were optimized in terms of the DG content of modified jute fabrics. Moreover, the results of breaking strength and elongation of DG-grafted jute/polypropylene (PP) composites demonstrated improved reinforcement of the composite due to enzymatic hydrophobic modification of jute fibers.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Science and Technology of Eco-Textile, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Ruirui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Science and Technology of Eco-Textile, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Aixue
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Science and Technology of Eco-Textile, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu, China.|International Joint Research Laboratory for Textile and Fiber Bioprocesses, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Xuerong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Science and Technology of Eco-Textile, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Yuanyuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Science and Technology of Eco-Textile, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu, China.|International Joint Research Laboratory for Textile and Fiber Bioprocesses, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Jiugang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Science and Technology of Eco-Textile, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Science and Technology of Eco-Textile, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu, China. qiang_wang@163.com.|International Joint Research Laboratory for Textile and Fiber Bioprocesses, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu, China. qiang_wang@163.com.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: International Joint Research Laboratory for Textile and Fiber Bioprocesses, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu, China.|Department of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cavaco-Paulo
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D005707:Gallic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase / Q000737:chemistry; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008031:Lignin / Q000737:chemistry*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011126:Polypropylenes; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013784:Textiles
chemical_list: D011126:Polypropylenes; C008259:lauryl gallate; D005707:Gallic Acid; D008031:Lignin; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase
keywords: Composite; Enzyme biocatalysis; Heterogeneous biocatalysis; Horseradish peroxidase; Hydrophobicity; Lignin