María Laura Foresti

Nanocellulose Patents Trends: A Comprehensive Review on Patents on Cellulose Nanocrystals, Microfibrillated and Bacterial Cellulose

Cellulose nanoparticles (i.e. cellulose elements having at least one dimension in the 1-100 nm range) have received increasing attention during the last decade. This is not only evident in academic articles, but it is also manifested by the increasing number of nanocellulose patents that are published every year. In the current review, nanocellulose patents are reviewed using specific software which provides valuable information on the annual number of patents that have been published throughout the years, main patent owners, most prolific inventors, and patents on the field that have received more citations. Patent statistics on rod-like cellulose nanoparticles extracted from plants by acid hydrolysis (nanocrystals), mechanical treatment leading to microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), and microbially produced nanofibrils (bacterial cellulose, BC) are analyzed in detail. The aim of the current review is to provide researchers with patent information which may help them in visualizing the evolution of nanocellulose technology, both as a whole and also divided among the different nanosized particles that are currently the subject of outstanding scientific attention. Then, patents are not only analyzed by their content, but also by global statistics which will reveal the moment at which different cellulose nanoparticles technologies achieved a breakthrough, the relative interest received by different nanocellulose particles throughout the years, the companies that have been most interested in this technology, the most prolific inventors, and the patents that have had more influence in further developments. It is expected that the results showing the explosion that nanocellulose technology is experiencing in current days will still bring more research on the topic and contribute to the expansion of nanocellulosics applications.

Applications of bacterial cellulose as precursor of carbon and composites with metal oxide, metal sulfide and metal nanoparticles: A review of recent advances

This mini review is limited to very recent studies (last 5-10 years) on two major issues, concerning: the production and physical/chemical modification of bacterial cellulose (BC), and its transformation into carbon and integrated synthesis of metal oxides (TiO2, ZnO, Fe3O4, etc.), metal sulfide (ZnS, CdS, etc.) and metal nanoparticles (Au, Ag, Pt, Pd, etc.) within bacterial cellulose nanoribbons network. We believe that the crossover of these two domains could be of considerable interest in the view of improving the performance of materials prepared with bacterial cellulose. The diversity of these nanomaterials allows targeting of many very different properties/applications: electrochemical devices, catalysis and photocatalysis, sensors, etc. After an introduction to the most important chemical and physical characteristics of BC, production parameters, and its physical and chemical modifications, we review the use of BC as a precursor of inorganic materials like carbon and composites with metal or inorganic nanoparticles.

Surface esterification of cellulose nanofibers by a simple organocatalytic methodology.

Bacterial cellulose nanofibers were esterified with two short carboxylic acids by means of a simple and novel organic acid-catalyzed route. The methodology proposed relayed on the use of a non-toxic biobased α-hydroxycarboxylic acid as catalyst, and proceeded under moderate reaction conditions in solventless medium. By varying the esterification interval, acetylated and propionized bacterial cellulose nanofibers with degree of substitution (DS) in the 0.02-0.45 range could be obtained. Esterified bacterial cellulose samples were characterized by means of Solid-State CP/MAS (13)C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (CP/MAS (13)C NMR), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and chosen hydrophobicity test assays. TGA results showed that the esterified nanofibers had increased thermal stability, whereas XRD data evidenced that the organocatalytic esterification protocol did not alter their crystallinity. The analysis of the ensuing modified nanofibers by NMR, FTIR, XRD and TGA demonstrated that esterification occurred essentially at the surface of bacterial cellulose microfibrils, something highly desirable for changing their surface hydrophilicity while not affecting their ultrastructure.

Simple organocatalytic route for the synthesis of starch esters

Starch acetates and starch butyrates with degree of substitution (DS) in the range of 0.06-1.54 were prepared by a simple direct solvent-free organocatalytic methodology of starch acylation. The starch esters synthesized have important applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries, among others. The acylation methodology used involves a non-toxic biobased α-hydroxycarboxylic acid as catalyst, and proceeds with high efficiency in absence of solvents. The effect of reaction time on the advance of starch modification was studied as a simple way to control the level of substitution achieved, when all other reaction parameters were kept constant. Starch esters were characterized by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). FTIR spectroscopy qualitatively confirmed the esterification of starch by the appearance of bands which are associated with esters groups. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the granular structure of the polysaccharide was preserved upon acylation, although acylated granules had rougher surfaces; and wrinkles, grooves and deformed zones appeared in some granules at high DS. Thermogravimetric analysis showed a gradual reduction in the water content of acylated starches, as well as noticeable changes in their thermal properties at increasing DS. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the acetylation treatment led to lower crystallinity at increasing DS, although characteristic corn starch A-type patterns could be identified even at the highest DS achieved (DS=1.23). Specific bands and weight losses derived from FTIR and TGA data could be very well correlated with the substitution degree achieved in acetylated starches at DS lower/equal than 0.6. The organocatalytic methodology described for the synthesis of starch acetates and butyrates has the potential to be easily extended to the synthesis of other starch esters using a variety of anhydrides or carboxylic acids as acylating agents.

Cross-linked enzyme aggregates (CLEAs) of selected lipases: a procedure for the proper calculation of their recovered activity

In the last few years, synthesis of carrier-free immobilized biocatalysts by cross-linking of enzyme aggregates has appeared as a promising technique. Cross-linked enzyme aggregates (CLEAs) present several interesting advantages over carrier-bound immobilized enzymes, such as highly concentrated enzymatic activity, high stability of the produced superstructure, important production costs savings by the absence of a support, and the fact that no previous purification of the enzyme is needed. However, the published literature evidences that a) much specific non-systematic exploratory work is being done and, b) recovered activity calculations in CLEAs still need to be optimized. In this context, this contribution presents results of an optimized procedure for the calculation of the activity retained by CLEAs, based on the comparison of their specific activity relative to their free enzyme counterparts. The protocol implies determination of precipitable protein content in commercial enzyme preparations through precipitation with ammonium sulphate and a protein co-feeder. The identification of linear ranges of activity versus concentration/amount of protein in the test reaction is also required for proper specific activity determinations. By use of mass balances that involve the protein initially added to the synthesis medium, and the protein remaining in the supernatant and washing solutions (these last derived from activity measurements), the precipitable protein present in CLEAs is obtained, and their specific activity can be calculated. In the current contribution the described protocol was applied to CLEAs of Thermomyces lanuginosa lipase, which showed a recovered specific activity of 11.1% relative to native lipase. The approach described is simple and can easily be extended to other CLEAs and also to carrier-bound immobilized enzymes for accurate determination of their retained activity.

Analysis of a preferential action of α-amylase from B. licheniformis towards amorphous regions of waxy maize starch.

Waxy maize starch was subjected to α-amylase (Bacillus licheniformis) hydrolysis in buffered medium to determine the evolution of reaction in quantitative terms and also in terms of the morphology and crystallinity of the partially hydrolyzed starch granules. Gathered data allowed studying the pattern of action of this α-amylase over waxy maize starch granules, with particular focus on a preferential hydrolysis of the amorphous regions of starch. Results showed that waxy maize starch hydrolysis followed a two-stage kinetic profile with an initial stage characterized by high reaction rate, followed by a slower second stage. The change of hydrolysis rate occurred at approximately 6h of reaction, a time for which X-ray diffraction data quantitatively analyzed by three different techniques showed a maximum of crystallinity in partially hydrolyzed granules. Scanning electron microscopy images illustrated the action of α-amylases which implied the exoerosion of the granules surface, the entry of α-amylases into the granules through radial channels, their endoerosion towards the granule exterior, and their fragmentation. Fragmentation of waxy maize starch granules revealed internal layered structures of starch which were interpreted as hydrolyzed/non-hydrolyzed growth rings. Under the conditions chosen, kinetic, electron microscopy and X-ray data all gave evidence of a preferential action of α-amylase from Bacillus licheniformis towards the less ordered regions of waxy maize starch. Results showed that, provided the proper hydrolysis time is chosen, starch granules with increased crystallinity can be obtained by a pure enzymatic treatment.

Organocatalytic acetylation of starch: Effect of reaction conditions on DS and characterisation of esterified granules

Starch acetates with varying degree of substitution (DS) were prepared by a novel solvent-free organocatalytic methodology. The acetylation protocol involved a non-toxic biobased α-hydroxycarboxylic acid as catalyst, and proceeded with high efficiency in absence of solvents. The effect of reaction conditions including reaction temperature (90-140 °C), catalyst load (0-2.3 g/g starch), acetic anhydride/starch weight ratio (6.5-13.5 g/g), and starch moisture content (0.6-14.8%) on the DS of the esters was evaluated. The analysis performed showed that the increase of temperature and catalyst concentration resulted in higher DS values, and evidenced a beneficial contribution of native starch moisture content on the substitution level achieved. Variation of reaction conditions allowed starch esters to be obtained with DS in the 0.03-2.93 range. Starch esters were characterised in terms of morphology, chemical structure, thermal properties, and distribution in polar/non polar liquid systems.

Simple citric acid-catalyzed surface esterification of cellulose nanocrystals

A simple straightforward route for the surface esterification of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) is herein proposed. CNC obtained from microcrystalline cellulose were acetylated using as catalyst citric acid, a α-hydroxy acid present in citrus fruits and industrially produced by certain molds in sucrose or glucose-containing medium. No additional solvent was added to the system; instead, the acylant (acetic anhydride) was used in sufficient excess to allow CNC dispersion and proper suspension agitation. By tuning the catalyst load, CNC with two different degree of substitution (i.e. DS=0.18 and 0.34) were obtained. Acetylated cellulose nanocrystals were characterized in terms of chemical structure, crystallinity, morphology, thermal decomposition and dispersion in a non-polar solvent. Results illustrated for the first time the suitability of the protocol proposed for the simple surface acetylation of cellulose nanocrystals.

Facile synthesis of cobalt ferrite nanotubes using bacterial nanocellulose as template

A facile method for the preparation of cobalt ferrite nanotubes by use of bacterial cellulose nanoribbons as a template is described. The proposed method relays on a simple coprecipitation operation, which is a technique extensively used for the synthesis of nanoparticles (either isolated or as aggregates) but not for the synthesis of nanotubes. The precursors employed in the synthesis are chlorides, and the procedure is carried out at low temperature (90 °C). By the method proposed a homogeneous distribution of cobalt ferrite nanotubes with an average diameter of 217 nm in the bacterial nanocellulose (BC) aerogel (3%) was obtained. The obtained nanotubes are formed by 26-102 nm cobalt ferrite clusters of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles with diameters in the 9-13 nm interval. The nanoparticles that form the nanotubes showed to have a certain crystalline disorder, which could be attributed in a greater extent to the small crystallite size, and, in a lesser extent, to microstrains existing in the crystalline lattice. The BC-templated-CoFe2O4 nanotubes exhibited magnetic behavior at room temperature. The magnetic properties showed to be influenced by a fraction of nanoparticles in superparamagnetic state.

Acetylation of bacterial cellulose catalyzed by citric acid: Use of reaction conditions for tailoring the esterification extent

Bacterial cellulose (BC) nanoribbons were partially acetylated by a simple direct solvent-free route catalyzed by citric acid. The assay of reaction conditions within chosen intervals (i.e. esterification time (0.5-7h), catalyst content (0.08-1.01mmol/mmol AGU), and temperature (90-140°C)), illustrated the flexibility of the methodology proposed, with reaction variables which can be conveniently manipulated to acetylate BC to the required degree of substitution (DS) within the 0.20-0.73 interval. Within this DS interval, characterization results indicated a surface-only process in which acetylated bacterial cellulose with tunable DS, preserved fibrous structure and increased hydrophobicity could be easily obtained. The feasibility of reusing the catalyst/excess acylant in view of potential scale-up was also illustrated.