<br/>The first part of this presentation will describe a general strategy for introducing remarkable changes in organization of the bacterial cellulose (BC) nanoscale 3-D matrix and, consequently, functional properties of bacterial cellulose (BC). We found that BC producing cells were induced by a well-defined atomized droplet nutrient delivery (ADND) system to form pellicles with a regular layered morphology that persists throughout the mat depth. In contrast, the morphology of mats formed by conventional static medium nutrient delivery (SMND) is irregular with no distinguishable pattern. We will also report on other details of the structures formed and the corresponding mat properties. The second topic will be on methods to prepare and modify cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) from plant sources. A single step one-pot procedure that combines concurrent cellulose acid hydrolysis and organic acid catalyzed Fischer esterification was one approach used to build in a wide range of CNC surface functionalization. The second approach focused on compatibilizing CNC’s with PLA. Since PMMA and PLA are miscible in the melt, grafting of MMA from CNCs in aqueous media was carried out using ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN). By using CAN, a high grafting efficiency (77%) was achieved which increased the PMMA content on CNC surfaces. After PMMA grafting in water, modified CNCs are predispersed in a PMMA network. Miscibility between PMMA grafts and PLLA as well as the predispersion of CNCs played a key role in the dispersion of CNCs in PLLA and the formation of composites with an increase in the heat deflection temperature (HDT) from about 70<sup>o</sup>C to above 130 °C.

Putting cellulose from bacteria and plants to work

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

[Author Benefits](https://scimeetings.acs.org/?utm_source=pubs_content_marketing&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=0320_MCF_NPI_Launch_Spring_Homepage&ref=pubs_content_marketing)

[How to use SciMeetings](https://storage.googleapis.com/dl.morressier.com/acs/SciMeetings-ACSSpring2020-HowToGuide_M3020-Final.pdf)

[Frequently Asked Questions](https://storage.googleapis.com/dl.morressier.com/acs/SciMtng_ACSNMSp2020_FAQ_M3120_Final.pdf)

ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.