Effect of high residual lignin on the thermal stability of nanofibrils and its enhanced mechanical performance in aqueous environments

Abstract

In this study, the effect of high residual lignin (21 % w/w) on the thermal properties of cellulose nanofibrils and the performance of films made from these nanofibrils in aqueous environments have been explored for the first time. Individualised cellulose nanofibrils with diameter <100 nm were obtained from the mechanical fibrillation of bark residue fibers with high lignin content. The mass loss by thermal degradation started at a higher temperature of 306 °C for these nanofibrils compared to 278 °C for those fibrils with low amount of lignin (5 % w/w). The maximum rate of degradation occurred at a temperature of around 390 and 319 °C for high and low lignin containing nanofibrils, respectively. Such a high thermal stability for high lignin containing nanofibrils has never been reported for nanocellulose from any other studies. The films made from these high lignin nanofibrils showed lower water uptake and better wet mechanical properties compared to films made from low lignin containing cellulose nanofibrils. The high lignin nanofibril films retained 38 % of the dry strength properties, while the low lignin nanofibril films were able to retain only 9 % of dry strength.