Production of cellulose nanofibrils and films from elephant grass using deep eutectic solvents and a solid acid catalyst

• Published in: RSC advances Vol. 11; no. 23; pp. 1471 - 1478
• Main Authors: Wu, Xi-Que, Liu, Pan-Dao, Liu, Qun, Xu, Shu-Ying, Zhang, Yu-Cang, Xu, Wen-Rong, Liu, Guo-Dao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Royal Society of Chemistry 13.04.2021; The Royal Society of Chemistry
• Subjects: Catalysts; Cellulose; Chemistry; Decantation; Disintegration; Elephant grass; Elongation; Grasses; Solvents; Suction; Sulfuric acid; Tensile strength; Thermal stability; Vacuum filtration
• ISSN: 2046-2069; 2046-2069
• DOI: 10.1039/d1ra02259h

A new strategy was developed to produce cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) and films from raw elephant grass using deep eutectic solvents and a recyclable spent coffee-derived solid acid (SC-SO 3 H) catalyst with assistance of ultrasonic disintegration and a suction filtration film forming method. The effects of a solid acid and reused solid acid were comprehensively studied by comparing with catalyst-free conditions and using sulfuric acid as the catalyst. The CNF fibers obtained from this novel SC-SO 3 H catalyst method showed the longest fiber length. The corresponding films achieved the strongest tensile strength of 79.8 MPa and the elongation at break of 13.6%, and best thermostability. In addition, the performance of CNFs and films prepared by the fourth recovered SC-SO 3 H-4 catalyst was close to that obtained with the first use. The SC-SO 3 H could be reused by a simple decantation method, meaning this novel method has the potential for green and sustainable preparation of CNFs and films. A new strategy was developed to produce cellulose nanofibrils and films from elephant grass using deep eutectic solvents and a recyclable solid acid catalyst with assistance of ultrasonic disintegration and a suction filtration film forming method.