Abstract
The explorations of valorizing crop wastes have drawn more and more attention in recent years. Among them, preparing lignin-containing cellulose micro/nano-fibrils (LCMNF) is an extremely promising strategy. In this study, LCMNF with a significant amount of lignin were prepared from corncob residues (CCR) left from xylose extraction. The focus of the work was to explore the influence of different pretreatment methods on the properties of LCMNF and the barrier properties of resulting films. The pretreatment methods included alkali-sulfite (AS), alkali-hydrogen peroxide (AP) and mediator-free laccase (ML), in which lignin was the pretreatment object. The results show that AS and AP increase the reactivity of lignin and cause the partial dissolution of lignin. In addition, the residual lignin does not affect the fibrillation of the CCR, but it reduces the water retention value of the resulting LCMNF, compared with lignin-free cellulose micro/nano-fibrils (DCMNF) from fully delignified CCR. As a result, the water contact angles of films from LCMNF are increased. Although different pretreatments have different effects on the barrier properties of films from LCMNF, the three preprocessing methods decrease the water vapor permeability (WVP) and oxygen permeability (OP). Especially for AS pretreatment, the film gives the lowest WVP (1.72 g mm/(m2 day kPa), at 23 °C and 50%RH) and OP (0.85 (cm μm)/(m2·24 h kpa), at 23 °C and 0% RH), which makes it promising for further application in packaging materials.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Agate S, Tyagi P, Naithani V, Lucia L, Pal L (2020) Innovating Generation of nanocellulose from industrial hemp by dual asymmetric centrifugation. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 8:1850–1858. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.9b05992
Ämmälä A, Laitinen O, Sirviö JA, Liimatainen H (2019) Key role of mild sulfonation of pine sawdust in the production of lignin containing microfibrillated cellulose by ultrafine wet grinding. Ind Crops Prod 140:111664. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2019.111664
Bian H, Chen L, Gleisner R, Dai H, Zhu JY (2017) Producing wood-based nanomaterials by rapid fractionation of wood at 80 °C using a recyclable acid hydrotrope. Green Chem 19:3370–3379. https://doi.org/10.1039/c7gc00669a
Bian H, Wu X, Luo J, Qiao Y, Fang G, Dai H (2019) Valorization of alkaline peroxide mechanical pulp by metal chloride-assisted hydrotropic pretreatment for enzymatic saccharification and cellulose nanofibrillation. Polymers 11:331. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11020331
Brodin FW, Eriksen Ø (2015) Preparation of individualised lignocellulose microfibrils based on thermomechanical pulp and their effect on paper properties. Nord Pulp Pap Res J 30:443–451. https://doi.org/10.3183/npprj-2015-30-03-p443-451
Bu L, Xing Y, Yu H, Gao Y, Jiang J (2012) Comparative study of sulfite pretreatments for robust enzymatic saccharification of corn cob residue. Biotechnol Biofuels 5:87. https://doi.org/10.1186/1754-6834-5-87
Chen JH, Liu JG, Su YQ, Xu ZH, Li MC, Ying RF, Wu JQ (2019b) Preparation and properties of microfibrillated cellulose with different carboxyethyl content. Carbohydr Polym 206:616–624. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2018.11.024
Chen H et al (2019a) Effect of solvent fractionation pretreatment on energy consumption of cellulose nanofabrication from switchgrass. J Mater Sci 54:8010–8022. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-019-03413-y
Ferrer A et al (2012) Effect of residual lignin and heteropolysaccharides in nanofibrillar cellulose and nanopaper from wood fibers. Cellulose 19:2179–2193. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-012-9788-z
Ferrer A, Hoeger IC, Lu X, Rojas OJ (2016) Reinforcement of polypropylene with lignocellulose nanofibrils and compatibilization with biobased polymers. J Appl Polym Sci 133. https://doi.org/10.1002/app.43854
Hambardzumyan A, Foulon L, Chabbert B, Vr A-B (2012) Natural organic UV-absorbent coatings based on cellulose and lignin: designed effects on spectroscopic properties. Biomacromol 13:4081–4088. https://doi.org/10.1021/bm301373b
Herrera M, Thitiwutthisakul K, Yang X, Rujitanaroj P-o, Rojas R, Berglund L (2018) Preparation and evaluation of high-lignin content cellulose nanofibrils from eucalyptus pulp. Cellulose 25:3121–3133. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-018-1764-9
Hoeger IC, Nair SS, Ragauskas AJ, Deng Y, Rojas OJ, Zhu JY (2013) Mechanical deconstruction of lignocellulose cell walls and their enzymatic saccharification. Cellulose 20:807–818. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-013-9867-9
Htun M, Engstrand P, Salmen L (1988) The implication of lignin softening on latency removal of mechanical and chemimechanical pulps. J Pulp Pap Sci 14:J109–J113
Huang Y, Nair SS, Chen H, Fei B, Yan N, Feng Q (2019) Lignin-rich nanocellulose fibrils isolated from parenchyma cells and fiber cells of Western Red Cedar Bark. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 7:15607–15616. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.9b03634
Jiang Y, Liu X, Yang Q, Song X, Qin C, Wang S, Li K (2018) Effects of residual lignin on mechanical defibrillation process of cellulosic fiber for producing lignocellulose nanofibrils. Cellulose 25:6479–6494. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-018-2042-6
Lehto J, Hiltunen E, Paulapuro H (2010) Paper physics: TMP long fibres as reinforcement pulp Part 2. Pilot tests. Nord Pulp Pap Res J 25:340–350. https://doi.org/10.3183/npprj-2010-25-03-p340-350
Lindholm C-A (2009) Mechanical pulping. Papermaking Science and Technology. Chemimechanical pulping, Helsinki, Finland
Liu X et al (2019) Mild alkaline pretreatment for isolation of native-like lignin and lignin-containing cellulose nanofibers (LCNF) from crop waste. ACS Sustain Chem Eng 7:14135–14142. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.9b02800
Munk L, Sitarz AK, Kalyani DC, Mikkelsen JD, Meyer AS (2015) Can laccases catalyze bond cleavage in lignin? Biotechnol Adv 33:13–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biotechadv.2014.12.008
Nair SS, Yan N (2015) Bark derived submicron-sized and nano-sized cellulose fibers: From industrial waste to high performance materials. Carbohyd Polym 134:258–266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2015.07.080
Nair SS, Kuo P-Y, Chen H, Yan N (2017) Investigating the effect of lignin on the mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties of cellulose nanofibril reinforced epoxy composite. Ind Crops Prod 100:208–217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2017.02.032
Nair SS, Chen H, Peng Y, Huang Y, Yan N (2018) Polylactic acid biocomposites reinforced with nanocellulose fibrils with high lignin content for improved mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 6:10058–10068. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.8b01405
Riva S (2006) Laccases: blue enzymes for green chemistry. Trends Biotechnol 24:219–226. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2006.03.006
Rojo E, Peresin MS, Sampson WW, Hoeger IC, Vartiainen J, Laine J, Rojas OJ (2015) Comprehensive elucidation of the effect of residual lignin on the physical, barrier, mechanical and surface properties of nanocellulose films. Green Chem 17:1853–1866. https://doi.org/10.1039/c4gc02398f
Shackford LD (2003) A comparison of pulping and bleaching of kraft softwood and eucalyptus pulps. Paper presented at the 36th international pulp and paper congress and exhibition, Sao Paul Brazil,
Solala I, Iglesias MC, Peresin MS (2019) On the potential of lignin-containing cellulose nanofibrils (LCNFs): a review on properties and applications. Cellulose 27:1853–1877. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-019-02899-8
Spence KL, Venditti RA, Rojas OJ, Habibi Y, Pawlak JJ (2010b) The effect of chemical composition on microfibrillar cellulose films from wood pulps: water interactions and physical properties for packaging applications. Cellulose 17:835–848. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-010-9424-8
Spence KL, Venditti RA, Habibi Y, Rojas OJ, Pawlak JJ (2010a) The effect of chemical composition on microfibrillar cellulose films from wood pulps: mechanical processing and physical properties. Biores Technol 101:5961–5968. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2010.02.104
Sun R, Song X, Sun R, Jiang J (2011) Effect of lignin content on enzymatic hydrolysis of furfural residues. BioResources 6:317–328
Tarrés Q, Espinosa E, Domínguez-Robles J, Rodríguez A, Mutjé P, Delgado-Aguilar M (2017) The suitability of banana leaf residue as raw material for the production of high lignin content micro/nano fibers: From residue to value-added products. Ind Crops Prod 99:27–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2017.01.021
Thomas B et al (2018) Nanocellulose, a versatile green platform: from biosources to materials and their applications. Chem Rev 118:11575–11625. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.7b00627
Ververis C, Georghiou K, Christodoulakis N, Santas P, Santas R (2004) Fiber dimensions, lignin and cellulose content of various plant materials and their suitability for paper production. Ind Crops Prod 19:245–254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2003.10.006
Wang H, Zhang X, Wang D, Cui C (2016) Estimation and development of corn cob resources in China. Chinese Journal of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning 37:1–8. https://doi.org/10.7621/cjarrp.1005-9121.20160101
Wang Q et al (2018) Flexible cellulose nanopaper with high wet tensile strength, high toughness and tunable ultraviolet blocking ability fabricated from tobacco stalk via a sustainable method. J Mater Chem A 6:13021–13030. https://doi.org/10.1039/C8TA01986J
Wen Y et al (2019) Preparation and characterization of lignin-containing cellulose nanofibril from poplar high-yield pulp via TEMPO-mediated oxidation and homogenization. ACS Sustain Chem Eng 7:6131–6139. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.8b06355
Widsten P, Kandelbauer A (2008) Laccase applications in the forest products industry: a review. Enzyme Microb Technol 42:293–307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enzmictec.2007.12.003
Wong KKY, Richardson JD, Mansfield SD (2000) Enzymatic treatment of mechanical pulp fibers for improving papermaking properties. Biotechnol Prog 16:1025–1029. https://doi.org/10.1021/bp000064d
Zhang L et al (2019) Preparation of high-strength sustainable lignocellulose gels and their applications for antiultraviolet weathering and dye removal. ACS Sustain Chem Eng 7:2998–3009. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.8b04413
Zhang C-w, Nair SS, Chen H, Yan N, Farnood R, Li F-y (2020) Thermally stable, enhanced water barrier, high strength starch bio-composite reinforced with lignin containing cellulose nanofibrils. Carbohyd Polym 230:115626. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2019.115626
Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to Shengran Sun and Dongle Wu who provided assistance in writing the paper.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict to interest.
Funding
The authors are grateful for financial support from the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2017YFE0102500).
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Electronic supplementary material
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Luo, J., Su, Y., Chen, J. et al. Pretreatment of lignin-containing cellulose micro/nano-fibrils (LCMNF) from corncob residues. Cellulose 28, 4671–4684 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-021-03798-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-021-03798-7