Characterization and Exploration of Applications of Nanocellulose Derived From Sargassum Muticum

Sargassum muticum is an invasive species of marine algae affecting Florida and other areas along the Atlantic Ocean. There is urgency to find real-world applications of this species or its products, such as its cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) and nanocrystals (CNCs), collectively known as nanocellulose...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Cody O'Brien
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Florida State Open Publishing 2025-05-01
Series:The Owl
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.flvc.org/owl/article/view/138495
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850123127108927488
author Cody O'Brien
author_facet Cody O'Brien
author_sort Cody O'Brien
collection DOAJ
description Sargassum muticum is an invasive species of marine algae affecting Florida and other areas along the Atlantic Ocean. There is urgency to find real-world applications of this species or its products, such as its cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) and nanocrystals (CNCs), collectively known as nanocellulose. The objective of this project was to attempt the first documented extraction of CNFs from S. muticum, perform tests and imaging on them, and explore their future applications in medicine, concrete reinforcement, insulation, and other fields. Nanocellulose acts as a more sustainable alternative to the standard materials used for those purposes, offering improved human and environmental health outcomes. The algae was dried, grinded, and bleached, and then refluxed in a sodium hydroxide solution to remove the proteins. Then, a chloroform-methanol-water solution was used to remove the algae's lipids and pigments. Finally, a hydrochloric acid solution was used to further refine the remaining carbohydrate-based cellulose. The sample was centrifuged between each refluxation. The final product was characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), which confirmed the successful extraction of CNCs, contrary to original expectations. These CNCs, measuring between 70 and 700 nm in length and below 10 nm in width, compared favorably with CNCs from other sources, including other species of algae.
format Article
id doaj-art-e8916145a39a427fa12eb7ed5b4cf868
institution OA Journals
issn 2693-5759
2693-5783
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Florida State Open Publishing
record_format Article
series The Owl
spelling doaj-art-e8916145a39a427fa12eb7ed5b4cf8682025-08-20T02:34:40ZengFlorida State Open PublishingThe Owl2693-57592693-57832025-05-01141Characterization and Exploration of Applications of Nanocellulose Derived From Sargassum MuticumCody O'Brien0Florida State University Sargassum muticum is an invasive species of marine algae affecting Florida and other areas along the Atlantic Ocean. There is urgency to find real-world applications of this species or its products, such as its cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) and nanocrystals (CNCs), collectively known as nanocellulose. The objective of this project was to attempt the first documented extraction of CNFs from S. muticum, perform tests and imaging on them, and explore their future applications in medicine, concrete reinforcement, insulation, and other fields. Nanocellulose acts as a more sustainable alternative to the standard materials used for those purposes, offering improved human and environmental health outcomes. The algae was dried, grinded, and bleached, and then refluxed in a sodium hydroxide solution to remove the proteins. Then, a chloroform-methanol-water solution was used to remove the algae's lipids and pigments. Finally, a hydrochloric acid solution was used to further refine the remaining carbohydrate-based cellulose. The sample was centrifuged between each refluxation. The final product was characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), which confirmed the successful extraction of CNCs, contrary to original expectations. These CNCs, measuring between 70 and 700 nm in length and below 10 nm in width, compared favorably with CNCs from other sources, including other species of algae. https://journals.flvc.org/owl/article/view/138495Sargassum muticumalgae nanocelluloseCNFsCNCs
spellingShingle Cody O'Brien
Characterization and Exploration of Applications of Nanocellulose Derived From Sargassum Muticum
The Owl
Sargassum muticum
algae
nanocellulose
CNFs
CNCs
title Characterization and Exploration of Applications of Nanocellulose Derived From Sargassum Muticum
title_full Characterization and Exploration of Applications of Nanocellulose Derived From Sargassum Muticum
title_fullStr Characterization and Exploration of Applications of Nanocellulose Derived From Sargassum Muticum
title_full_unstemmed Characterization and Exploration of Applications of Nanocellulose Derived From Sargassum Muticum
title_short Characterization and Exploration of Applications of Nanocellulose Derived From Sargassum Muticum
title_sort characterization and exploration of applications of nanocellulose derived from sargassum muticum
topic Sargassum muticum
algae
nanocellulose
CNFs
CNCs
url https://journals.flvc.org/owl/article/view/138495
work_keys_str_mv AT codyobrien characterizationandexplorationofapplicationsofnanocellulosederivedfromsargassummuticum