Nanocelluloses are a class of naturally-derived nanomaterials with unique properties and potential applications in several fields. Produced from cellulose, the most common forms of nanoscale cellulose structures include cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs), and hairy cellulose nanocrystals (HCNCs). HCNCs are a novel type of nanocelluloses, which are synthesized by partially preserving the amorphous regions of cellulose, yielding a crystalline body resembling conventional CNCs sandwiched between two layers of highly functional amorphous cellulose chains. The amorphous cellulose chains impart a high functional group density to HCNCs, up to one order of magnitude higher than conventional nanocelluloses. HCNCs can be synthesized as neutral, cationic, or anionic nanocelluloses. The high charge density of HCNCs renders them a suitable platform for water treatment, including the removal of organic dyes and heavy metal ions from wastewater. There is an abundance of sources to isolate cellulose from; however, the structure and composition variations in natural sources may lead to varying nanocellulose properties. This work studies, for the first time, the structure-property relationships of four lignocellulosic sources, including bleached softwood kraft pulp, Whatman™ grade 1 filter paper made from cotton linters, corncob, and tomato peel, undergoing controlled oxidation. These sources include treated (free from other polysaccharides) and untreated lignocelluloses, and the products include biopolymeric nanoparticles, solubilized biopolymers, and microproducts. Some of the unique carboxylated products are then tested as a biorenewable adsorbent for neodymium, one the world’s most critical rare earth elements, demonstrating a removal capacity of &gt; 90 mg g<sup>-1</sup> and up to 65% recovery of neodymium from water.

Chemically-enabled nanoengineering of lignocellulosic sources for water treatment

ACS Spring 2022

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