Recyclable grease-proof cellulose nanocomposites with enhanced water resistance for food serving applications

Hossain, Rakibul; Tajvidi, Mehdi; Bousfield, Douglas; Gardner, Douglas J.

doi:10.1007/s10570-022-04608-4

Original Research
Published: 16 May 2022

Recyclable grease-proof cellulose nanocomposites with enhanced water resistance for food serving applications

Rakibul Hossain¹,
Mehdi Tajvidi ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-3549-1220¹,
Douglas Bousfield² &
Douglas J. Gardner¹

Cellulose volume 29, pages 5623–5643 (2022)Cite this article

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Abstract

Recyclable cellulose nanofibril (CNF) and lignin-containing cellulose nanofibril (LCNF) coated wood flour composites were fabricated using a vacuum-filtration process for food serving applications. The coated cellulose nanofibril composites had excellent mechanical, and oil, and grease barrier properties compared to a commercial container. However, the composites with both LCNF and CNF coating layers had poor performance in wet conditions compared to the commercial container. The addition of 1 wt.% aluminum sulfate (alum) to the CNF and LCNF coating layer significantly improved the water-resistance of the composites. CNF + 1% alum coated composites had inferior water resistance and lower mechanical strength in wet conditions compared to the commercial container. However, the LCNF + 1% alum coated composites had comparable water resistance and higher wet mechanical properties than the commercial container. The recyclability of the composites was assessed through the disintegration of the samples in water and subsequent reformation, and it was found that the composites were fully recyclable. The composites could fully retain their mechanical and excellent oil and grease barrier properties after each recycling level. These recyclable fully bio-based nanocomposites can be an eco-friendly alternative for currently used food container systems that use harmful chemicals.

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Abbreviations

CNF:: Cellulose nanofibril
LCNF:: Lignin-containing cellulose nanofibril
LDPE:: Low-density polyethylene
PLA:: Polylactic acid
PFA:: Per or poly-fluoroalkyl
AKD:: Alkyl ketene dimer
BKP:: Bleached kraft pulp
UBKP:: Unbleached kraft pulp
OCC:: Old corrugated container
SFE:: Surface free energy
SEM:: Scanning electron microscope
EDS:: Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy
FTIR:: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy
ATR:: Attenuated total reflectance
MOE:: Modulus of elasticity
MOR:: Modulus of rupture
MRT:: Modulus retention term
ANOVA:: Analysis of variance
DMRT:: Duncan’s multiple range test

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Funding

This work was supported by USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) [Project # 58–0204-6–003].

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Authors and Affiliations

School of Forest Resources and Advanced Structures and Composites Center, University of Maine, 5755 Nutting Hall, Room 117, Orono, ME, 04469-5755, USA
Rakibul Hossain, Mehdi Tajvidi & Douglas J. Gardner
Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA
Douglas Bousfield

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Rakibul Hossain
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Mehdi Tajvidi
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Douglas Bousfield
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Douglas J. Gardner
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Correspondence to Mehdi Tajvidi.

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Hossain, R., Tajvidi, M., Bousfield, D. et al. Recyclable grease-proof cellulose nanocomposites with enhanced water resistance for food serving applications. Cellulose 29, 5623–5643 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-022-04608-4

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Received: 19 January 2022
Accepted: 21 April 2022
Published: 16 May 2022
Issue Date: July 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-022-04608-4

Keywords

Cellulose nanomaterials
Wood flour
Food containers
Recyclability
Water resistance