There is current interest in using biopolymers to replace petroleum-based additives in industrial applications because they are abundantly available, renewable, and sustainable. Cottonseed protein is a biopolymer that has shown improved performance for wood adhesives and paper products. Since cottonseed protein can be used as a modifier to improve the performance of paper products, it would be useful to explore the feasibility of using cellulose nanomaterials to further improve the performance of cottonseed protein as a paper strength additive. This research characterized the performance use of cottonseed protein isolate with/without cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) as co-additives to increase the dry strength of paper products. Application of 10% protein solution with CNCs (10:1) or CNFs (50:1) improved the tensile strength, modulus and elongation at break of paper products compared to the improved performance of cottonseed protein alone. Further characterization by thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy suggested that cottonseed protein/nanocellulose composites interacted with the fibers in the paper products to impart increased dry strength.

Nanocellulose as a co-additive for improved performance of cottonseed protein isolate as a paper strength additive

ACS Fall 2021

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