Characterization of Carboxylated Cellulose Nanocrystals Isolated Through Oxalic Acid Hydrolysis from Solid Residues of Softwood-Derived Glycol Lignin Production
The efficient use of renewable lignocellulosic biomass has attracted wide interest, as it promises to reduce the environmental impact of fossil fuel consumption. A recently developed batch-scale process, which produces glycol lignin (GL) from softwood biomass, generates a considerable amount of cell...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| author | Thi Thi Nge Tatsuhiko Yamada |
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| description | The efficient use of renewable lignocellulosic biomass has attracted wide interest, as it promises to reduce the environmental impact of fossil fuel consumption. A recently developed batch-scale process, which produces glycol lignin (GL) from softwood biomass, generates a considerable amount of cellulose-rich solid residues (SRs) as a byproduct. In this study, usable cellulose was isolated from SRs in the form of carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals (O-CNCs). The properties of O-CNCs were investigated to establish a possible integrated biomass utilization system based on the GL production technology. Three different forms of purified SRs—never-dried (N-Cel), freeze-dried (F-Cel), and vacuum-dried (V-Cel) cellulose—were subjected to oxalic acid (OA) hydrolysis at 95 °C for 4 h. The average length of O-CNCs ranged from 90 to 120 nm and the height ranged from 3 to 6 nm for separate particles and from 8 to 20 nm for aggregates. The carboxyl group content was 0.11–0.23 mmol/g O-CNCs. The overall results indicated that the yields, dimensions, surface charges, and thermal stability of the O-CNCs were largely influenced by the nature of the starting cellulose. In addition, O-CNCs prepared from recycled OA exhibited similar properties to those prepared from fresh OA. |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| spelling | doaj-art-1e3f3ec4cfd749f7b3c0fa927a7ebc5a2025-08-20T03:32:15ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-07-013014292210.3390/molecules30142922Characterization of Carboxylated Cellulose Nanocrystals Isolated Through Oxalic Acid Hydrolysis from Solid Residues of Softwood-Derived Glycol Lignin ProductionThi Thi Nge0Tatsuhiko Yamada1Center for Advanced Materials, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (FFPRI), 1 Matsunosato, Tsukuba 305-8687, JapanCenter for Advanced Materials, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (FFPRI), 1 Matsunosato, Tsukuba 305-8687, JapanThe efficient use of renewable lignocellulosic biomass has attracted wide interest, as it promises to reduce the environmental impact of fossil fuel consumption. A recently developed batch-scale process, which produces glycol lignin (GL) from softwood biomass, generates a considerable amount of cellulose-rich solid residues (SRs) as a byproduct. In this study, usable cellulose was isolated from SRs in the form of carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals (O-CNCs). The properties of O-CNCs were investigated to establish a possible integrated biomass utilization system based on the GL production technology. Three different forms of purified SRs—never-dried (N-Cel), freeze-dried (F-Cel), and vacuum-dried (V-Cel) cellulose—were subjected to oxalic acid (OA) hydrolysis at 95 °C for 4 h. The average length of O-CNCs ranged from 90 to 120 nm and the height ranged from 3 to 6 nm for separate particles and from 8 to 20 nm for aggregates. The carboxyl group content was 0.11–0.23 mmol/g O-CNCs. The overall results indicated that the yields, dimensions, surface charges, and thermal stability of the O-CNCs were largely influenced by the nature of the starting cellulose. In addition, O-CNCs prepared from recycled OA exhibited similar properties to those prepared from fresh OA.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/14/2922carboxylated cellulose nanocrystalsrecyclable oxalic acidsoftwoodsolid residuesglycol lignin |
| spellingShingle | Thi Thi Nge Tatsuhiko Yamada Characterization of Carboxylated Cellulose Nanocrystals Isolated Through Oxalic Acid Hydrolysis from Solid Residues of Softwood-Derived Glycol Lignin Production Molecules carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals recyclable oxalic acid softwood solid residues glycol lignin |
| title | Characterization of Carboxylated Cellulose Nanocrystals Isolated Through Oxalic Acid Hydrolysis from Solid Residues of Softwood-Derived Glycol Lignin Production |
| title_full | Characterization of Carboxylated Cellulose Nanocrystals Isolated Through Oxalic Acid Hydrolysis from Solid Residues of Softwood-Derived Glycol Lignin Production |
| title_fullStr | Characterization of Carboxylated Cellulose Nanocrystals Isolated Through Oxalic Acid Hydrolysis from Solid Residues of Softwood-Derived Glycol Lignin Production |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterization of Carboxylated Cellulose Nanocrystals Isolated Through Oxalic Acid Hydrolysis from Solid Residues of Softwood-Derived Glycol Lignin Production |
| title_short | Characterization of Carboxylated Cellulose Nanocrystals Isolated Through Oxalic Acid Hydrolysis from Solid Residues of Softwood-Derived Glycol Lignin Production |
| title_sort | characterization of carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals isolated through oxalic acid hydrolysis from solid residues of softwood derived glycol lignin production |
| topic | carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals recyclable oxalic acid softwood solid residues glycol lignin |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/14/2922 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT thithinge characterizationofcarboxylatedcellulosenanocrystalsisolatedthroughoxalicacidhydrolysisfromsolidresiduesofsoftwoodderivedglycolligninproduction AT tatsuhikoyamada characterizationofcarboxylatedcellulosenanocrystalsisolatedthroughoxalicacidhydrolysisfromsolidresiduesofsoftwoodderivedglycolligninproduction |