Ragab E. Abou-Zeid

Development of wheat gluten/nanocellulose/titanium dioxide nanocomposites for active food packaging

Bionanocomposites were developed by casting/evaporation of wheat gluten (WG), cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), and TiO2 nanoparticles. The effect of addition of different percentages of CNC, and TiO2 on tensile strength (TS), Youngs modulus and water sensitivity was studied. A significant improvement in the studied properties is observed when 7.5% CNC and 0.6% TiO2 is added to WG. WG/CNC 7.5%/0.6% TiO2 blend suspension was chosen to coat commercial packaging unbleached kraft paper sheets via 1, 2 and 3 coating layers. A significant enhancement of 56% and 53% in breaking length and burst index, respectively, was achieved for 3 layers coated paper. The antimicrobial activity of the coated papers, against Saccharomyces cervisiae, Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, was investigated and expressed in terms of reduction % of surviving number (CFU) of the tested organisms. More than 98.5% reduction in CFU was observed against the organisms compared to TiO2-free coated paper.

Plant proteins as binders in cellulosic paper composites.

Plant proteins are used - for the first time - in this work as bulk binders for cellulosic fibers in paper composites. Soy bean protein and wheat gluten were denatured by two methods, namely by: urea+NaOH and by urea+NaOH+acrylamide. Addition of increased amounts of the denatured proteins resulted in a significant increase in all paper strength properties. Soy protein led, in addition, to a remarkable enhancement in opacity. The use of proteins increased kaolin retention in the paper composites, while keeping the paper strength higher than the blank protein-free paper. The results show that plant proteins are favorable than synthetic adhesives; because they are biodegradable and do not cause troubles in paper recycling i.e. they are environmentally friendly.

Use of cellulose and oxidized cellulose nanocrystals from olive stones in chitosan bionanocomposites

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxyl- (TEMPO-) oxidized cellulose nanocrystals (CNC-TEMPO) were prepared from olive stones. The prepared nanocrystals were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and carboxylic groups content determination. The prepared nanocrystals were used as reinforcing elements in chitosan nanocomposites, which were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and tensile strength properties. In addition, the bioactivity of the prepared chitosan nanocomposites was studied in vitro in simulated body fluid (SBF) using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron diffraction X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The results showed positive effect of the nanocrystals on tensile strength properties of chitosan and noticeable reduction in its rate of dissolution in SBF due to presence of cellulose nanocrystals. Chitosan nanocomposites containing CNC-TEMPO showed higher tensile strength properties and higher rate of dissolution in SBF than those containing cellulose nanocrystals. Nanocomposites containing CNC or CNC-TEMPO could not form significant amounts of hydroxyapatite (HAp) upon immersion in SBF for up to 4 weeks. Upon addition of nanohydroxyapatite to chitosan/cellulose nanocrystals films, formation of new hydroxyapatite depositions was observed. Presence of cellulose nanocrystals in chitosan/HAp resulted in formation and deposition of higher amounts of new HAp than in case of using chitosan/HAp without cellulose nanocrystals.

Carboxymethyl cellulose/silica hybrids as templates for calcium phosphate biomimetic mineralization.

Multiphase hybrid materials were synthesized using carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as bioactive polymer, silica gel as matrix assisted networks and calcium phosphate as inorganic mineral phase. These hybrids were investigated with infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Biomimetic crystal growth nucleated from the CMC/silica hybrids was suggested as amorphous calcium phosphate with an evidence that hydroxyapatite, the mineralized component of bone, may be formed at high CMC content. This study provides an efficient approach toward bone-like hybrids with potential bone healing applications.

Membranes Based on Cellulose Nanofibers and Activated Carbon for Removal of Escherichia coli Bacteria from Water

Cellulosic nanomaterials are potential candidates in different areas, especially in water treatment. In the current work, palm fruit stalks cellulose nanofibers (CNF), TEMPO-oxidized CNF (OCNF), and activated carbon (AC) were used to make thin film membranes for removal of E. coli bacteria from water. Two types of layered membranes were produced: a single layer setup of crosslinked CNF and a two-layer setup of AC/OCNF (bottom) and crosslinked CNF (up) on hardened filter paper. The prepared membranes were evaluated regarding their microstructure and layers thickness using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Water flux and rejection of E. coli bacteria was tested using dead end stirred cells at 1 MPa pressure. Thickness of the cosslinked CNF layer in both types of membranes was about 0.75 micron. The results showed that exchanging water by isopropyl alcohol before drying increased porosity of membranes, and thus resulted in increasing pure water flux and flux of bacteria suspension. The two-layer AC/OCNF/CNF membrane had much higher water flux than the single layer CNF due to higher porosity seen on the surface of the former. Both types of membranes showed high capability of removing E. coli bacteria (rejection ~96–99%) with slightly higher efficiency for the AC/OCNF/CNF membrane than CNF membrane. AC/OCNF/CNF membrane also showed resistance against growth of E. coli and S. aureus bacteria on the upper CNF surface while the single layer CNF membrane did not show resistance against growth of the aforementioned bacteria.

Cellulose nanocrystals and carboxymethyl cellulose from olive stones and their use to improve paper sheets properties

Olive stones wastes were used to prepare cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). Transmission electron microscopy images showed that the prepared nanocrystals had width and length of about 5–7 nm and 174–234 nm, respectively. Mixtures containing CMC and CNC in water were prepared and the effect of CNC ratio (from 2.5–10 wt.% based on CMC) on viscosity of CMC solution was studied. Films casted from CMC/CNC mixtures were characterised regarding their crystallinity, tensile strength, and dynamic mechanical thermal properties. In addition, the prepared mixtures were used for coating of paper sheets and the effect of coating on mechanical properties (breaking length and tear factor), water absorption, and air permeability of paper sheets was studied. Presence of CNC in the coating mixtures resulted in improving mechanical properties and decreasing water absorption and air permeability of paper sheets as compared to paper sheets coated with neat CMC coating mixture.

Use of Bacterial Cellulose and Crosslinked Cellulose Nanofibers Membranes for Removal of Oil from Oil-in-Water Emulsions

Never-dried bacterial cellulose (BC) and crosslinked cellulose nanofibers (CNF) were used for the removal of oil from stabilized and non-stabilized oil-in-water emulsions with droplet sizes less than 1 µm. The CNF membranes were exchanged with isopropyl alcohol before drying. The microscopic structure of the prepared membranes was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM); the water flux and the rejection of oil were evaluated using a dead-end filtration cell. BC harvested after different incubation time periods (2 to 10 days) did not show a change in the width of the nanofibers, but only the thickness of the membranes was increased. Pure water flux was not affected as a result of increasing thicknesses of BC membranes harvested after 4–10 days while BC harvested after two days had significantly higher water flux than the others. BC showed a higher flux and efficiency in removing oil from oil emulsions than CNF membranes. Removal of oil by the different membranes from the non-stabilized oil emulsion was more efficient than from the stabilized one.

Calcium phosphate mineralization controlled by carboxymethyl cellulose-g-polymethacrylic acid

ABSTRACT Carboxymethyl cellulose-grafted polymethacrylic acid (CMC-g-PMAA) was synthesized by graft copolymerization process onto carboxymethyl cellulose backbone using methacrylic acid as a monomer and ammonium persulfate as a free radical initiator. CMC-g-PMAA was employed as dispersed template for controlling calcium phosphate mineralization from aqueous solutions at different copolymer contents and pHs. Hybrids with different morphologies and particles diameter were investigated by adjusting of preparation conditions. Synthesized hybrids were characterized by FT-IR, SEM, XRD, and particle size analyzer. Such functionalized hybrids with complex morphologies can be manipulated as a novel reinforcing fillers, ceramic precursors, or biomedical implants.

Novel method of preparation of tricarboxylic cellulose nanofiber for efficient removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous solution

2,3,6‑Tricarboxy cellulose nanofiber (TPC-CNFs) was prepared by 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine‑1‑oxyl (TEMPO) oxidation of dissolving cellulose pulp (selective at C-6) followed by periodate-chlorite oxidation (selective on C-2 and C-3). Characterization of the prepared samples were carried out using, atomic force microscope (AFM), carboxylate content determination, FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and light transmittance spectra. Also, the mechanical properties of TEMPO-oxidized of cellulose nanofiber (T-CNFs) and TPC-CNFs with and without polyamide-amine-epichlorohydrin crosslinker (PAE) films were determined which the tensile strength were 8.19, 12.43 and 20.5 MPa and elastic moduli of 1814, 1097 and 1150 MPa respectively. Tricaboxy cellulose nanofiber was developed as a novel adsorbent of heavy metal ions. Removal of heavy metals such as Cu2+, Ca2+ and Pb2+ from aqueous solution was carried out and the adsorption efficiencies were analyzed. On the other hand, the effect of the addition of the crosslinking agent to CNFs and the carboxylate contents of CNFs were investigated.

Effect of xylanase pretreatment of rice straw unbleached soda and neutral sulfite pulps on isolation of nanofibers and their properties

There is a recent interest in producing cellulose nanofibers with different surface properties from unbleached cellulose pulps for economic and environmental reasons. In the current study we investigated the use of xylanase pretreatment on two types of unbleached rice straw pulps, namely, soda and neutral sulfite, and their fibrillation to nanofibers using ultrafine grinding. The effect of xylanase pretreatment on the fibrillation progress, energy consumption, and nanofiber dimensions was studied. In addition, mechanical properties, water contact angle, water absorption, and roughness of produced nanopapers were studied. Although very thin nanofibers with a homogenous width could be isolated from both xylanase-treated and untreated pulps, the xylanase pretreatment resulted in faster fibrillation. In addition, nanopapers prepared from xylanase-treated nanofibers had better mechanical properties than those isolated from the untreated pulps. The energy consumption during fibrillation depended on the type of pulp; a slightly lower energy consumption (~ 8%) was recorded for xylanase-treated soda pulp while a higher energy consumption (~ 21%) was recorded for xylanase-treated neutral sulfite pulp compared to the untreated pulps.Graphical Abstract