Physicochemical, morphological, and rheological properties of cellulose nanofibrils produced via ultra-high-pressure homogenization

Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) possess desirable properties, including low density, high tensile strength, large surface area, and high biodegradability, making them valuable for broad industrial applications. High-pressure homogenization is the most common processing method to produce CNFs. This stud...

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Main Authors: Lingxin You, Benoît Marcolini, Jérôme Bour, Patrick Grysan, Yves Fleming, Peter Fischer, Christos Soukoulis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-03-01
Series:Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666893924002159
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author Lingxin You
Benoît Marcolini
Jérôme Bour
Patrick Grysan
Yves Fleming
Peter Fischer
Christos Soukoulis
author_facet Lingxin You
Benoît Marcolini
Jérôme Bour
Patrick Grysan
Yves Fleming
Peter Fischer
Christos Soukoulis
author_sort Lingxin You
collection DOAJ
description Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) possess desirable properties, including low density, high tensile strength, large surface area, and high biodegradability, making them valuable for broad industrial applications. High-pressure homogenization is the most common processing method to produce CNFs. This study reports on the impact of ultra-high-pressure homogenization (UHPH) on the structural and technofunctional properties of CNFs, including their Pickering o/w emulsion stabilizing performance. Microcrystalline cellulose suspensions (0.5 % w/w) were processed at pressures ranging from 500 to 3500 bar for up to 25 passes. According to our findings, the size (fiber length and width) of the CNFs was reduced with pressure increase. The highest colloidal stability of cellulose suspensions was observed at ≥ 2500 bar for at least 5 passes. The viscosity of cellulose suspensions increased progressively with the severity of the UHPH. Dynamic rheological characterization of the cellulose suspensions processed for 25 cycles revealed a true gel-like behavior within the linear viscoelastic regime and a strain stiffening effect at large strains (> 10 %). The lipid droplet polydispersity and creaming index of Pickering emulsions were minimized using the 3500 bar processed CNFs. In conclusion, UHPH is an efficient method to induce the nanofibrillation of cellulose, and improve its techno-functionality.
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spelling doaj-art-a3202b92d4e340119c0cbfe00a571bbd2025-08-20T02:52:23ZengElsevierCarbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications2666-89392025-03-01910063510.1016/j.carpta.2024.100635Physicochemical, morphological, and rheological properties of cellulose nanofibrils produced via ultra-high-pressure homogenizationLingxin You0Benoît Marcolini1Jérôme Bour2Patrick Grysan3Yves Fleming4Peter Fischer5Christos Soukoulis6Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Environmental Research and Innovation (ERIN) Department, 5 avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, Esch-sur-Alzette L-4362, Luxembourg; ETH Zurich, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, 8092 Zurich, SwitzerlandLuxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Materials Research and Technology (MRT) Department, 5 avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, Esch-sur-Alzette L-4362, LuxembourgLuxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Materials Research and Technology (MRT) Department, 5 avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, Esch-sur-Alzette L-4362, LuxembourgLuxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Materials Research and Technology (MRT) Department, 5 avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, Esch-sur-Alzette L-4362, LuxembourgLuxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Materials Research and Technology (MRT) Department, 5 avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, Esch-sur-Alzette L-4362, LuxembourgETH Zurich, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, 8092 Zurich, SwitzerlandLuxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Environmental Research and Innovation (ERIN) Department, 5 avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, Esch-sur-Alzette L-4362, Luxembourg; Corresponding author.Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) possess desirable properties, including low density, high tensile strength, large surface area, and high biodegradability, making them valuable for broad industrial applications. High-pressure homogenization is the most common processing method to produce CNFs. This study reports on the impact of ultra-high-pressure homogenization (UHPH) on the structural and technofunctional properties of CNFs, including their Pickering o/w emulsion stabilizing performance. Microcrystalline cellulose suspensions (0.5 % w/w) were processed at pressures ranging from 500 to 3500 bar for up to 25 passes. According to our findings, the size (fiber length and width) of the CNFs was reduced with pressure increase. The highest colloidal stability of cellulose suspensions was observed at ≥ 2500 bar for at least 5 passes. The viscosity of cellulose suspensions increased progressively with the severity of the UHPH. Dynamic rheological characterization of the cellulose suspensions processed for 25 cycles revealed a true gel-like behavior within the linear viscoelastic regime and a strain stiffening effect at large strains (> 10 %). The lipid droplet polydispersity and creaming index of Pickering emulsions were minimized using the 3500 bar processed CNFs. In conclusion, UHPH is an efficient method to induce the nanofibrillation of cellulose, and improve its techno-functionality.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666893924002159Cellulose modificationNanofibrillationViscoelasticityFlow behaviorMicrostructurePickering emulsion
spellingShingle Lingxin You
Benoît Marcolini
Jérôme Bour
Patrick Grysan
Yves Fleming
Peter Fischer
Christos Soukoulis
Physicochemical, morphological, and rheological properties of cellulose nanofibrils produced via ultra-high-pressure homogenization
Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications
Cellulose modification
Nanofibrillation
Viscoelasticity
Flow behavior
Microstructure
Pickering emulsion
title Physicochemical, morphological, and rheological properties of cellulose nanofibrils produced via ultra-high-pressure homogenization
title_full Physicochemical, morphological, and rheological properties of cellulose nanofibrils produced via ultra-high-pressure homogenization
title_fullStr Physicochemical, morphological, and rheological properties of cellulose nanofibrils produced via ultra-high-pressure homogenization
title_full_unstemmed Physicochemical, morphological, and rheological properties of cellulose nanofibrils produced via ultra-high-pressure homogenization
title_short Physicochemical, morphological, and rheological properties of cellulose nanofibrils produced via ultra-high-pressure homogenization
title_sort physicochemical morphological and rheological properties of cellulose nanofibrils produced via ultra high pressure homogenization
topic Cellulose modification
Nanofibrillation
Viscoelasticity
Flow behavior
Microstructure
Pickering emulsion
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666893924002159
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AT yvesfleming physicochemicalmorphologicalandrheologicalpropertiesofcellulosenanofibrilsproducedviaultrahighpressurehomogenization
AT peterfischer physicochemicalmorphologicalandrheologicalpropertiesofcellulosenanofibrilsproducedviaultrahighpressurehomogenization
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