Ice templated and cross-linked xylan/nanocrystalline cellulose hydrogels
Journal article, 2014

Structured xylan-based hydrogels, reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), have successfully been prepared from water suspensions by cross-linking during freeze-casting. In order to induce cross-linking during the solidification/sublimation operation, xylan was first oxidized using sodium periodate to introduce dialdehydes. The oxidized xylan was then mixed with CNCs after which the suspension was frozen unidirectionally in order to control the ice crystal formation and by that the pore morphology of the material. Finally the ice crystal templates were removed by freeze-drying. During the freeze-casting process hemiacetal bonds are formed between the aldehyde groups and hydroxyl groups, either on other xylan molecules or on CNCs, which cross-links the system. The proposed cross-linking reaction was confirmed by using cross-polarization magic angle spinning (CP/MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The pore morphology of the obtained materials was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The materials were also tested for compressive strength properties, both in dry and water swollen state. All together this study describes a novel combined freeze-casting/cross-linking process which enables fabrication of nanoreinforced biopolymer-based hydrogels with controlled porosity and 3-D architecture.

Freeze-casting

Cellulose nanocrystals

Hydrogel

Xylan

Cellulose whiskers

Author

Tobias Köhnke

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Forest Products and Chemical Engineering

T. Elder

USDA Forest Service

Hans Theliander

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Forest Products and Chemical Engineering

Wallenberg Wood Science Center (WWSC)

A. J. Ragauskas

Institute of Paper Science and Technology

Carbohydrate Polymers

0144-8617 (ISSN)

Vol. 100 24-30

Subject Categories

Polymer Chemistry

Materials Engineering

DOI

10.1016/j.carbpol.2013.03.060

More information

Latest update

8/27/2018