Feasibility of ramie fibers as raw material for the isolation of nanofibrillated cellulose

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers 2020-02, Vol.230, p.115579-115579, Article 115579
• Main Authors: Marinho, Nelson Potenciano, Cademartori, Pedro Henrique Gonzalez de, Nisgoski, Silvana, Tanobe, Valcineide Oliveira de Andrade, Klock, Umberto, Muñiz, Graciela Inés Bolzon de
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alkaline organosolv method; Biorefinery; Boehmeria nivea; Nanocellulose; Physical durability
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2019.115579

•Ramie fibers were used to produce cellulose nanofibers.•The alkaline organosolv method and a bleaching step were applied to prepare the pulps.•Effect of mechanical defibrillation was systematically studied.•CNF films were characterized in terms of physical and mechanical properties.•Ramie CNF films with remarkable barrier properties were produced. In this study, a strategy was adopted to enhance the use of ramie fibers as raw material for isolation of cellulose nanofibers (CNFs). Ramie pulp was produced by alkaline organosolv followed by bleaching. CNFs were produced by mechanical defibrillation, and films were fabricated via casting. Effects of number of passes in the mechanical grinding on physical and mechanical properties of CNF films were comprehensively studied. Potential of ramie fibers was proved by fabricating homogeneous nanofibers with average thickness of 8.72 nm, which led to CNF films with dense and non-porous networks, and crystallinity index of 76–78%. Tensile strength (42−82 MPa) and dynamic mechanical (9−11 GPa) performance were good only for less severe mechanical defibrillation. Lower solubility (1.85–2.43%). and activity (0.69) in water, and outstanding barrier properties against water vapor and oxygen make ramie suitable for more sustainable extraction of cellulose nanofibers and production of CNF films for diverse applications.