title: Highly Carboxylated Cellulose Nanofibers via Succinic Anhydride Esterification of Wheat Fibers and Facile Mechanical Disintegration.
abstract: We report herein the preparation of 4-6 nm wide carboxyl-functionalized cellulose nanofibers (CNF) via the esterification of wheat fibers with cyclic anhydrides (maleic, phtalic, and succinic) followed by an energy-efficient mechanical disintegration process. Remarkable results were achieved via succinic anhydride esterification that enabled CNF isolation by a single pass through the microfluidizer yielding a transparent and thick gel. These CNF carry the highest content of carboxyl groups ever reported for native cellulose nanofibers (3.8 mmol g-1). Compared to conventional carboxylated cellulose nanofibers prepared via Tempo-mediated oxidation of wheat fibers, the present esterified CNF display a higher molar-mass and a better thermal stability. Moreover, highly carboxylated CNF from succinic anhydride esterification were effectively integrated into paper filters for the removal of lead from aqueous solution and are potentially of interest as carrier of active molecules or as transparent films for packaging, biomedical or electronic applications.
authors.affiliation: Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Applied Wood Materials Laboratory , Überlandstrasse 129, CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland.
authors.forename: H
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6307-5208
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sehaqui
authors.affiliation: Department of Geochemistry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, California 94720, United States.
authors.forename: K
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7704-7048
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kulasinski
authors.affiliation: Eawag , Überlandstrasse 133, CH-8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pfenninger
authors.affiliation: Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Applied Wood Materials Laboratory , Überlandstrasse 129, CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.affiliation: Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Applied Wood Materials Laboratory , Überlandstrasse 129, CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tingaut
mesh_terms: D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D004951:Esterification; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D013387:Succinic Anhydrides / Q000737:chemistry*; D014908:Triticum / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D013387:Succinic Anhydrides; C031801:succinic anhydride; D002482:Cellulose