Physically cross-linked cellulose nanofiber (LCNF/CNF) hydrogels: impact of the composition on mechanical and swelling properties

Lignocellulose nanofibers (LCNFs) are highly regarded for their ability to significantly enhance the rigidity of formed structures. When integrated into cellulose nanofiber (CNF) hydrogels, they hold substantial promise in augmenting mechanical strength, as well as improving adsorption capacity. Her...

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Autores: Baraka, Farida, Morales Matías, Amaia, Velazco Cabral, Ivan, Rivilla de la Cruz, Iván, Labidi Bouchrika, Jalel
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Universidad del País Vasco
Repositorio:Addi. Archivo Digital para la Docencia y la Investigación
OAI Identifier:oai:addi.ehu.eus:10810/72661
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10810/72661
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:cellulose nanofibers
lignocellulose nanofibers
hydrogel
physical cross-linking
DFT
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spelling Physically cross-linked cellulose nanofiber (LCNF/CNF) hydrogels: impact of the composition on mechanical and swelling propertiesBaraka, FaridaMorales Matías, AmaiaVelazco Cabral, IvanRivilla de la Cruz, IvánLabidi Bouchrika, Jalelcellulose nanofiberslignocellulose nanofibershydrogelphysical cross-linkingDFTLignocellulose nanofibers (LCNFs) are highly regarded for their ability to significantly enhance the rigidity of formed structures. When integrated into cellulose nanofiber (CNF) hydrogels, they hold substantial promise in augmenting mechanical strength, as well as improving adsorption capacity. Herein, the preparation of hydrogels from an aqueous suspension of CNFs and LCNFs extracted from eucalyptus cellulose pulp through a homogenization process is outlined. Suspensions of different concentrations were prepared to assess the influence of lignin and nanofiber content on the properties of the hydrogels. The hydrogels cellulose nanofibers (HCNF) and lignocellulose nanofibers (HLCNF) were formed through a freeze–thaw process, revealing an enhancement in rigidity with increasing nanofiber concentration. DFT (density functional theory) calculations illustrated the cross-linking mechanism between cellulose chains induced by the crystallization of water molecules, thus, corroborating the postulated hydrogel formation mechanism. Microstructural analysis revealed honeycomb-shaped matrices in longitudinal sections, with HLCNF hydrogels presenting less smooth walls. Studies on water adsorption capacity showed rapid swelling in both hydrogels, correlated with the nanofiber content reaching 8750% and 5500% for HLCNF and HCNF, respectively. HLCNF hydrogels exhibited higher adsorption capacity due to the influence of lignin on cross-linking rates. Mechanical compression tests demonstrated exceptional resilience in all hydrogels. Despite having a lower cross-linking density compared to hydrogels made from 2 wt.% cellulose nanofibers, hydrogels composed of 2 wt.% lignocellulose nanofibers exhibited a Young’s modulus of 2.83 kPa. This underscores the superior mechanical properties of lignin-based hydrogels, highlighting the effect of lignin on the hydrogel matrix.Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature. This work was supported by the University of the Basque Country (grant PIF21/52) and the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (Grants PID2021-122937OB-I00, PID2019-104772 GB-I00 and RED2022-134287-T, MICIN/AEI/https://doi.org/10.13039/501100011033) and by the Gobierno Vasco/Eusko Jaurlaritza (GV/EJ, Grants IT-1498-22 and IT-1553–22). Also, thank the SGI/IZO-SGIker of the UPV/EHU and the DIPC for the generous allocation of analytical and computational resources. Finally, I. V. C. greatly appreciates the scholarships from CONACyT (#926323).Springer Nature202520252025info:eu-repo/semantics/articleapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/10810/72661reponame:Addi. Archivo Digital para la Docencia y la Investigacióninstname:Universidad del País VascoInglésinfo:eu-repo/grantAgreement/MICINN/PID2021-122937OB-I00/info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/MICINN/PID2019-104772GB-I00/info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/MICINN/RED2022-134287-T/https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42114-025-01218-zinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/© The Author(s) 2025. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International LicenseAtribución 3.0 Españaoai:addi.ehu.eus:10810/726612026-06-18T09:23:17Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Physically cross-linked cellulose nanofiber (LCNF/CNF) hydrogels: impact of the composition on mechanical and swelling properties
title Physically cross-linked cellulose nanofiber (LCNF/CNF) hydrogels: impact of the composition on mechanical and swelling properties
spellingShingle Physically cross-linked cellulose nanofiber (LCNF/CNF) hydrogels: impact of the composition on mechanical and swelling properties
Baraka, Farida
cellulose nanofibers
lignocellulose nanofibers
hydrogel
physical cross-linking
DFT
title_short Physically cross-linked cellulose nanofiber (LCNF/CNF) hydrogels: impact of the composition on mechanical and swelling properties
title_full Physically cross-linked cellulose nanofiber (LCNF/CNF) hydrogels: impact of the composition on mechanical and swelling properties
title_fullStr Physically cross-linked cellulose nanofiber (LCNF/CNF) hydrogels: impact of the composition on mechanical and swelling properties
title_full_unstemmed Physically cross-linked cellulose nanofiber (LCNF/CNF) hydrogels: impact of the composition on mechanical and swelling properties
title_sort Physically cross-linked cellulose nanofiber (LCNF/CNF) hydrogels: impact of the composition on mechanical and swelling properties
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Baraka, Farida
Morales Matías, Amaia
Velazco Cabral, Ivan
Rivilla de la Cruz, Iván
Labidi Bouchrika, Jalel
author Baraka, Farida
author_facet Baraka, Farida
Morales Matías, Amaia
Velazco Cabral, Ivan
Rivilla de la Cruz, Iván
Labidi Bouchrika, Jalel
author_role author
author2 Morales Matías, Amaia
Velazco Cabral, Ivan
Rivilla de la Cruz, Iván
Labidi Bouchrika, Jalel
author2_role author
author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv cellulose nanofibers
lignocellulose nanofibers
hydrogel
physical cross-linking
DFT
topic cellulose nanofibers
lignocellulose nanofibers
hydrogel
physical cross-linking
DFT
description Lignocellulose nanofibers (LCNFs) are highly regarded for their ability to significantly enhance the rigidity of formed structures. When integrated into cellulose nanofiber (CNF) hydrogels, they hold substantial promise in augmenting mechanical strength, as well as improving adsorption capacity. Herein, the preparation of hydrogels from an aqueous suspension of CNFs and LCNFs extracted from eucalyptus cellulose pulp through a homogenization process is outlined. Suspensions of different concentrations were prepared to assess the influence of lignin and nanofiber content on the properties of the hydrogels. The hydrogels cellulose nanofibers (HCNF) and lignocellulose nanofibers (HLCNF) were formed through a freeze–thaw process, revealing an enhancement in rigidity with increasing nanofiber concentration. DFT (density functional theory) calculations illustrated the cross-linking mechanism between cellulose chains induced by the crystallization of water molecules, thus, corroborating the postulated hydrogel formation mechanism. Microstructural analysis revealed honeycomb-shaped matrices in longitudinal sections, with HLCNF hydrogels presenting less smooth walls. Studies on water adsorption capacity showed rapid swelling in both hydrogels, correlated with the nanofiber content reaching 8750% and 5500% for HLCNF and HCNF, respectively. HLCNF hydrogels exhibited higher adsorption capacity due to the influence of lignin on cross-linking rates. Mechanical compression tests demonstrated exceptional resilience in all hydrogels. Despite having a lower cross-linking density compared to hydrogels made from 2 wt.% cellulose nanofibers, hydrogels composed of 2 wt.% lignocellulose nanofibers exhibited a Young’s modulus of 2.83 kPa. This underscores the superior mechanical properties of lignin-based hydrogels, highlighting the effect of lignin on the hydrogel matrix.
publishDate 2025
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025
2025
2025
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
format article
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/10810/72661
url http://hdl.handle.net/10810/72661
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/MICINN/PID2021-122937OB-I00/
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/MICINN/PID2019-104772GB-I00/
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/MICINN/RED2022-134287-T/
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42114-025-01218-z
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/
Atribución 3.0 España
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/
Atribución 3.0 España
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Springer Nature
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Springer Nature
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:Addi. Archivo Digital para la Docencia y la Investigación
instname:Universidad del País Vasco
instname_str Universidad del País Vasco
reponame_str Addi. Archivo Digital para la Docencia y la Investigación
collection Addi. Archivo Digital para la Docencia y la Investigación
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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