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Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue, “Cellulose Nanofibers: Fabrication and Application”, will address advances in nanocellulose production using different methodologies, their optimization, and the development of cellulose nanofibers applications. Due to their bio-based and biodegradable nature, their high specific surface area, excellent mechanical properties, and their ability to be chemically modified, cellulose nanofibres are one of the materials of greatest interest for the future. In a society conscious of the need of technological solutions with a strong sustainable character to combat climate change, the products and applications of cellulose nanofibers will be important. Original papers are solicited on all types of cellulose nanofiber production methods and their optimization, including TEMPO-mediated oxidation, enzymatic hydrolysis, mechanical refining, acid hydrolysis, and carboxymethylation. Of particular interest are recent developments in applications of cellulose nanofibers including aerogels, nanopapers, and hydrogels. Articles and reviews dealing with potential applications in diverse sectors such as biomedicine, environmental science, paper and board production, electronics, and plastic composites, among others, are very welcome.

Dr. Quim Tarrés
Dr. Marc Delgado-Aguilar
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Keywords

Nanocellulose
Cellulose nanofibers
Mechanical properties
Aerogels
Hydrogels
Nanopapers
TEMPO-mediated oxidation
Enzymatic hydrolysis
Mechanical refining
Acid hydrolysis
Carboxymethylation

Published Papers (1 paper)

Research

13 pages, 4772 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Clean Process for Obtaining High-Quality Cellulose Acetate from Cigarette Butts

by Anna De Fenzo, Michele Giordano and Lucia Sansone

Materials 2020, 13(21), 4710; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma13214710 - 22 Oct 2020

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 6532

Abstract

The main purpose of this study is to introduce a modified method for recovering and recycling huge number of cigarette butts (CBs) and convert them into a fashion product. CBs are non-biodegradable waste, generally, discarded improperly into the environment. CBs consist of cellulose acetate, which can be recovered through extraction and purification processes. CBs are the most numerically frequent form of waste in the world. A relevant portion of CBS are discarded improperly into the environment. The principal filter components are plasticized cellulose acetate fibers that have the slowest degradation rate (up to years). In fact, a limiting step is the hydrolysis of cellulose acetate polymer into cellulose and acetic acid, which is extremely slow under ambient conditions and represents a relevant environmental risk. A number of studies have been realized on recycling cigarette butts with encouraging results, and several methods have been studied, including recycling of cigarette butts in asphalt concrete and fired clay bricks, as a carbon source, sound-absorbing material, corrosion inhibitor, biofilm carrier, and many more. In this study, we propose a novel, green, low cost, simple, and efficient extraction method of cellulose acetate fibers (CA) from discarded cigarette butts (DCBs). CBs extraction procedure involves a two-step process consisting of washings in water and some subsequent washings in ethanol. The obtained samples of CA are dried at 60 °C for 60 min in the oven. The quality and properties of cellulose acetate extracted and purified are comparable to the pure cellulose acetate fiber used for cigarette butts. The preliminary results obtained on the recovered CA look promising to the use of this recovery material from cigarette butts to obtain a wide consumption fashion product, such as eyeglass frames. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellulose Nanofibers: Fabrication and Application)

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