Cellulose, chitin and silk: the cornerstones of green composites

Author(s)

El Seoud, Omar A. ^[1] ; Jedvert, Kerstin ^[2] ; Kostag, Marc ^[1] ; Possidonio, Shirley ^[3]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Chem, BR-05508000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Res Inst Sweden RISE IVF, Fiber Dev Mat & Prod, Box 104, S-43122 Molndal - Sweden

^[3] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Chem, Inst Environm Chem & Pharmaceut Sci, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Review article
• Source: EMERGENT MATERIALS; NOV 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

This overview article is concerned with fabrication and applications of the composites of three major biopolymers, cellulose (Cel), chitin (Chn)/chitosan (Chs), and silk fibroin (SF). A brief discussion of their molecular structures shows that they carry functional groups (-OH, -NH-COCH3, -NH2, -CONH-) whose hydrogen-bonding, and der Waals interactions lead to semi-crystalline structures in the solid phase. There are several classes of solvents that disrupt these interactions, hence dissolve the above-mentioned biopolymers. These include solutions of inorganic and organic electrolytes in dipolar aprotic solvents (DASs), ionic liquids (ILs), and their solutions in DASs. Mixing of biopolymer solutions leads to efficient mutual interactions, hence formation of relatively homogeneous composites. These are then regenerated in non-solvents (water, ethanol, acetone) in different physical forms, e.g., fibers, nanoparticles and films. We discuss the fabrication of these products that have enormous potential use in the textile industry, in medicine, in the food industry, and decontamination of fluids. These applications will most certainly expand due to the attractive characteristics of these composites (renewability, sustainability, biodegradation) and the increased public concern about the adverse environmental impact of petroleum-based polymers, as recently shown by the presence of microplastics in air, water, land, and food (Akdogan \& Guven in Environ Pollut. 254:113011 (2019)). (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/22869-7 - Novel solvents in cellulose chemistry: synthesis, properties, and application of quaternaryammonium electrolytes for dissolution, regeneration, and derivatization of cellulose
• Grantee: Marc Kostag
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 17/06394-1 - Muti-user equipment approved in grant 2014/22136-4: isothermal titration calorimeter (ITC) for the determination of thermodynamic parameters of molecular interactions
• Grantee: Omar Abou El Seoud
• Support Opportunities: Multi-user Equipment Program