| Title |
Garbage to Nanocellulose: Quantitative Isolation and Characterization of Steam-Treated Carboxymethyl Holocellulose Nanofibrils from Municipal Solid Waste |
| ID_Doc |
29155 |
| Authors |
Patterson, GD; McManus, JD; McSpedon, D; Nazneen, S; Wood, DF; Williams, T; Hart-Cooper, WM; Orts, WJ |
| Title |
Garbage to Nanocellulose: Quantitative Isolation and Characterization of Steam-Treated Carboxymethyl Holocellulose Nanofibrils from Municipal Solid Waste |
| Year |
2023 |
| Published |
Acs Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 11.0, 7 |
| DOI |
10.1021/acssuschemeng.2c05236 |
| Abstract |
Municipal solid waste (MSW) is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions unless its carbons are sequestered into highervalue products. This study focuses on isolating organic solids and cellulose-rich fibers from MSW via high-pressure steam treatment and converting the fibrous, prepulped materials from wastepaper, packaging materials, cardboard, etc., into value-added cellulose nanofibrils. Chemical-mechanical defibrillation of steam-treated municipal solid waste was optimized using heterogeneous and nonregioselective carboxymethyl etherification coupled with shearing by blender, thus transforming a heterogeneous mix of MSW into homogeneous carboxymethyl holocellulose nanofibrils without the use of conventional pretreatments of crude cellulosic feedstock. These carboxymethylated, hemicellulose-coated, cellulose nanofibrils were isolated quantitatively at >95% yield with widths 3-8 nm, thicknesses 1-3 nm, and lengths up to 1000 nm. We posit that this advancement of combining an inexhaustible, global supply of waste cellulose, large-scale steam autoclaving pretreatment, and an industrially relevant carboxymethylation process could unlock the higher potential of sustainable cellulosic nanomaterials for a circular economy. |
| Author Keywords |
municipal solid waste; steam autoclaving; carboxymethylation; holocellulose nanofibrils; waste management |
| Index Keywords |
Index Keywords |
| Document Type |
Other |
| Open Access |
Open Access |
| Source |
Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED) |
| EID |
WOS:000930584600001 |
| WoS Category |
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary; Green & Sustainable Science & Technology; Engineering, Chemical |
| Research Area |
Chemistry; Science & Technology - Other Topics; Engineering |
| PDF |
https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.2c05236
|