• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.565-576
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• 2018

Cellulose acetate (CA) has been widely utilized for composite materials due to its high transparency and thermal resistance. In this study, CNCs (cellulose nanocrystals) were reinforced in CA nanocomposites for fortifying mechanical properties of the composites. In addition, CA nanocomposites reinforced with CNCs were manufactured by extrusion/injection processes applied with CNC-predispersion method for achieving a high dispersion level of CNCs in the CA matrix. According to the analysis of mechanical properties, the CA nanocomposite with 3 wt% CNCs has the highest tensile and flexural strengths due to the reinforcing effect of CNC nanoparticles. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the addition of acid hydrolyzed CNCs slightly lowered the initial pyrolysis temperature of CA nanocomposite.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.597-606
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• 2019

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were successfully isolated from oil palm fronds (OPFs) using different concentrations of ammonium persulfate (APS), and their characteristics were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). APS oxidation effectively isolated CNCs with rod-like morphology in nanometer scale. The dimensions of the CNCs decreased with increasing APS concentration. FTIR and XRD analyses revealed that all the CNCs showed crystals in the form of cellulose I without crystal transformation occurring during APS treatment. The relative crystallinity of the CNCs increased with increasing APS concentration, whereas their thermal stability decreased. An APS concentration of 2 M was found to be optimal for isolating the CNCs.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.311-320
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• 2019

In this study, the effect of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) on the fire resistance properties of fiber-reinforced cement composites was investigated. The main variables were CNCs content (0.4, 0.8 and 1.2vol.% compared with cement), steel fiber ratio, and exposure temperature (100, 200, 400, 600 and 800℃). The fire resistance properties, i.e., residual compressive strength, flexural strength, and porosity, were evaluated in relation with the exposure temperature of the specimens. The CNCs suspensions were prepared to composited dispersion method of magnetic stirring and ultra-sonication. CNCs are effective for increasing the compressive strength at high temperatures but CNCs do not seem to have a significant effect on flexural reinforcement. Porosity test result showed CNCs reduce the non-hydration area inside the cement and promote hydration.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.231-244
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• 2020

As a way of finding value-added materials from waste medium density fiberboard (MDF), this study characterized cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) isolated by ammonium persulfate (APS) oxidation using recycled MDF fibers. Chemical composition of the recycled MDF fibers was done to quantify α-cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, nitrogen, ash and extractives. The APS oxidation was performed at 60 ℃ for 16 h, followed by ultrasonication, which resulted in a CNC yield of 11%. Transmission electron microscope images showed that rod-like CNCs had an average length and diameter of 167±47 nm and 8.24±2.28 nm, respectively, which gave an aspect ratio of about 20. The conductometric titration of aqueous CNCs suspension resulted in a carboxyl content of 0.24 mmol/g and the degree of oxidation was 0.04. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy clearly showed the presence of carboxyl group on the CNCs prepared by the APS oxidation. The change of pH of the aqueous CNC suspension from 4 to 7 converted the carboxyl group to sodium carboxylate group. These results showed that the APS oxidation was facile and CNCs had a one-step preparation method, and thus suggested an optimization of the oxidation condition in future.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.59-71
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• 2018

Purpose: Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are natural polymers that have been promoted as a next generation of new, sustainable materials. CNCs are invaluable as reinforcing materials for composites because they can impart improved mechanical, chemical, and thermal properties and they are biodegradable. The purpose of this review is to provide researchers with information that can assist in the application of CNCs extracted from waste agricultural byproducts (e.g. rice husks, corncobs, pineapple leaves). Methods & Results: This paper presents the unique characteristics of CNCs based on agricultural byproducts, and lists processing methods for manufacturing CNCs from agricultural byproducts. Various mechanical treatments (microfluidization and homogenization) and chemical treatments (alkali treatment, bleaching and hydrolysis) can be performed in order to generate nanocellulose. CNC-based composite properties and various applications are also discussed. Conclusions: CNC-based composites from agricultural byproducts can be combined to meet end-use applications such as sensors, batteries, films, food packaging, and 3D printing by utilizing their properties. The review discusses applications in food engineering, biological engineering, and cellulose-based hydrogels.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.431-449
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• 2020

Structural property of most hydrogels is soft, resulting in low mechanical performance that limits their usage in the biomedical applications. For overcoming the drawback, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were adopted in this study. Effects of CNCs on characteristics and drug delivery performance of poly (vinyl alcohol) based hydrogels were explored. FT-IR results showed that the fabricated hydrogels had semi-IPN (semi-interpenetrating polymer network) by formation of acetal and aldehyde bridge. Water absorption and swelling ratio decreased with increasing CNCs content, and the hydrogels with CNCs showed better viscoelastic performance than the without CNCs. Also, CNCs mostly improved the ability of the hydrogel to absorb the drug and the sustainability of the drug release. These results demonstrated that incorporating CNCs into the hydrogel systems can be a good alternative to improve drug delivery performance and mechanical property of the hydrogels.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.373-393
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• 2015

Background: Cellulose is a ubiquitous, renewable and environmentally friendly biopolymer, which has high promise to fulfil the rising demand for sustainable and biocompatible materials. Particularly, the recent progress in the synthesis of highly crystalline cellulose-based nanoscale biomaterials, namely cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), draws significant attention from many research communities, ranging from bioresource engineering, to materials science and engineering, to biological and biomedical engineering to bionanotechnology. The feasibility of harnessing CNCs' unique biophysicochemical properties has inspired their basic and applied research, offering much promise for new biomaterials with diverse advanced functionalities. Purpose: This review focuses on vital issues and topics on the recent advances in CNC-based biomaterials with potential, in particular, for bionanotechnology and biological and biomedical engineering. The challenges and limitations of CNC technology are discussed as well as potential strategies to overcome them, providing an essential source of information in the exploration of possible and futuristic applications of the CNC-based functional "green" nanomaterials. Conclusion: CNCs offer exciting possibilities for advanced "green" nanomaterials, driving innovative research and development in a wide range of fields, including biological and biomedical engineering.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.250-255
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• 2013

As a renewable nanomaterial, cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) isolated from wood grants excellent mechanical properties in developing high performance nanocomposites. This study was undertaken to compare the reinforcing efficiency of two different CNCs, i.e., cellulose nanowhiskers (CNWs) and cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) from hardwood bleached kraft pulp (HW-BKP) as reinforcing agent in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based nanocomposite. The CNWs were isolated by sulfuric acid hydrolysis while the CNFs were isolated by 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical (TEMPO)-mediated oxidation. Based on measurements using transmission electron microscopy, the individual CNWs were about $6.96{\pm}0.87nm$ wide and $178{\pm}55nm$ long, while CNFs were $7.07{\pm}0.99nm$ wide. The incorporation of CNWs and CNFs into the PVA matrix at 5% and 1% levels, respectively, resulted in the maximum tensile strength, indicating different efficiencies of these CNCs in the nanocomposites. Therefore, these results suggest a relationship between the reinforcing potential of CNCs and their physical characteristics, such as their morphology, dimensions, and aspect ratio.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.518-527
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• 2015

In this study, nanocomposite mats consisting of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and poly(lactic acide) (PLA) were electrospun from a suspension mixture consisting of tetrahydrofuran at room temperature. Morphology study showed that fibers of electrospun composite mats were aligned in three dimensional surface along the fiber long-axis. Average diameter of the electrospun fibers decreased with an increase in the CNC loading level. Tensile strength of the electrospun fibers mat decreased with an increase in the CNC loading level because of bead formation in the formed fibers and low interfacial bond strength between PLA and CNC. Meanwhile, thermal stability of the electrospun nanocomposite mats was effectively improved as the amount of CNC increased.