Robust superhydrophobic cellulose nanofiber aerogel for multifunctional environmental applications

The fabrication of superadsorbent for dye adsorption is a hot research area at present. However, the development of low-cost and highly efficient superadsorbents against toxic textile dyes is still a big challenge. Here, we fabricated hydrophobic cellulose nanofiber aerogels from cellulose nanofibers through an eco-friendly silanization reaction in liquid phase, which is an extremely efficient, rapid, cheap, and environmentally friendly procedure. Moreover, the demonstrated eco-friendly silanization technique is easy to commercialize at the industrial level. Most of the works that have reported on the hydrophobic cellulose nanofiber aerogels explored their use for the elimination of oil from water. The key novelty of the present work is that the demonstrated hydrophobic cellulose nanofibers aerogels could serve as superadsorbents against toxic textile dyes such as crystal violet dye from water and insulating materials for building applications. Here, we make use of the possible hydrophobic interactions between silane-modified cellulose nanofiber aerogel and crystal violet dye for the removal of the crystal violet dye from water. With a 10 mg/L of crystal violet (CV) aqueous solution, the silane-modified cellulose nanofiber aerogel showed a high adsorption capacity value of 150 mg/g of the aerogel. The reason for this adsorption value was due to the short-range hydrophobic interaction between the silane-modified cellulose nanofiber aerogel and the hydrophobic domains in crystal violet dye molecules. Additionally, the fabricated silane-modified cellulose nanofiber hydrophobic aerogels exhibited a lower thermal conductivity value of 0.037 W\ub7m -1 K -1 , which was comparable to and lower than the commercial insulators such as mineral wools (0.040 W\ub7m -1 K -1 ) and polystyrene foams (0.035 W\ub7m -1 K -1 ). We firmly believe that the demonstrated silane-modified cellulose nanofiber aerogel could yield an eco-friendly adsorbent that is agreeable to adsorbing toxic crystal violet dyes from water as well as active building thermal insulators

Cotton in the new millennium: advances, economics, perceptions and problems

Cotton is the most significant natural fibre and has been a preferred choice of the textile industry and consumers since the industrial revolution began. The share of man-made fibres, both regenerated and synthetic fibres, has grown considerably in recent times but cotton production has also been on the rise and accounts for about half of the fibres used for apparel and textile goods. To cotton’s advantage, the premium attached to the presence of cotton fibre and the general positive consumer perception is well established, however, compared to commodity man-made fibres and high performance fibres, cotton has limitations in terms of its mechanical properties but can help to overcome moisture management issues that arise with performance apparel during active wear. This issue of Textile Progress aims to: i. Report on advances in cotton cultivation and processing as well as improvements to conventional cotton cultivation and ginning. The processing of cotton in the textile industry from fibre to finished fabric, cotton and its blends, and their applications in technical textiles are also covered. ii. Explore the economic impact of cotton in different parts of the world including an overview of global cotton trade. iii. Examine the environmental perception of cotton fibre and efforts in organic and genetically-modified (GM) cotton production. The topic of naturally-coloured cotton, post-consumer waste is covered and the environmental impacts of cotton cultivation and processing are discussed. Hazardous effects of cultivation, such as the extensive use of pesticides, insecticides and irrigation with fresh water, and consequences of the use of GM cotton and cotton fibres in general on the climate are summarised and the effects of cotton processing on workers are addressed. The potential hazards during cotton cultivation, processing and use are also included. iv. Examine how the properties of cotton textiles can be enhanced, for example, by improving wrinkle recovery and reducing the flammability of cotton fibre

Nanocellulose-Based Membranes for Water Purification

Scarcity and contamination of worldwide drinking water demand advanced, effective water purification methodologies. Eliminating numerous contaminants, such as heavy metals, toxic textile dyes, pesticides, oil, and other industrial, as well as agricultural, wastes, from water has become a serious concern because of their adverse effects on human health and the ecosystem. Recently, developments in nanoscience and nanotechnology propose that several of the present problems relating to water quality could be greatly reduced by using nanomaterials because of their good adsorption efficiency, higher surface area, and greater active sites for interaction with contaminants in water. In this context, nanocellulose is the most abundant and renewable polymer available globally and consists of repeating β-d-glucopyranose units covalently linked through acetal functions between the hydroxyl groups of C4 and C1 carbon atoms that provide it chirality and reactivity properties. Nanocellulose is a fascinating material for practical applications because it is cost-effective, is renewable, and can be handled at huge scale using conventional wood industry techniques. Nanocellulose is a valuable filtration material because it is affordable, sustainable, inert, and stable at a broad range of pH/ionic strength. Moreover, the abundant availability of the surface hydroxyl groups on the nanocellulose facilitates various surface chemistries that can be explored for targeting various contaminants in water. This chapter covers the recent developments and literature of nanocellulose in the field of water purification