Bacterial Cellulose Network from Kombucha Fermentation Impregnated with Emulsion-Polymerized Poly(methyl methacrylate) to Form NanocompositeShow others and affiliations
2021 (English)In: Polymers, E-ISSN 2073-4360, Vol. 13, no 4, article id 664
Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
The use of bio-based residues is one of the key indicators towards sustainable development goals. In this work, bacterial cellulose, a residue from the fermentation of kombucha tea, was tested as a reinforcing nanofiber network in an emulsion-polymerized poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix. The use of the nanofiber network is facilitating the formation of nanocomposites with well-dispersed nanofibers without using organic solvents or expensive methodologies. Moreover, the bacterial cellulose network structure can serve as a template for the emulsion polymerization of PMMA. The morphology, size, crystallinity, water uptake, and mechanical properties of the kombucha bacterial cellulose (KBC) network were studied. The results showed that KBC nanofibril diameters were ranging between 20–40 nm and the KBC was highly crystalline, >90%. The 3D network was lightweight and porous material, having a density of only 0.014 g/cm3. Furthermore, the compressed KBC network had very good mechanical properties, the E-modulus was 8 GPa, and the tensile strength was 172 MPa. The prepared nanocomposites with a KBC concentration of 8 wt.% were translucent with uniform structure confirmed with scanning electron microscopy study, and furthermore, the KBC network was homogeneously impregnated with the PMMA matrix. The mechanical testing of the nanocomposite showed high stiffness compared to the neat PMMA. A simple simulation of the tensile strength was used to understand the limited strain and strength given by the bacterial cellulose network. The excellent properties of the final material demonstrate the capability of a residue of kombucha fermentation as an excellent nanofiber template for use in polymer nanocomposites.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
MDPI, 2021. Vol. 13, no 4, article id 664
Keywords [en]
bacterial cellulose, kombucha fermentation, PMMA, emulsion polymerization, mechanical composites, nanocomposites
National Category
Bio Materials
Research subject
Wood and Bionanocomposites
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-83209DOI: 10.3390/polym13040664ISI: 000624255700001PubMedID: 33672280Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85102338762OAI: oai:DiVA.org:ltu-83209DiVA, id: diva2:1535442
Funder
Bio4Energy
Note
Validerad;2021;Nivå 2;2021-03-09 (alebob);
Finansiär: Spain's government (CTQ2017-85654-C2-1-R, MAT2017-83347-R); University of Girona
2021-03-092021-03-092025-04-16Bibliographically approved