Hydrophobic Surface Modification of Nanocellulose in an All-Aqueous System
발표자
Lam Tan Hao (한국화학연구원)
연구책임자
김효정 (한국화학연구)
초록
내용
Nanocellulose, derived from the Earth’s most abundant biopolymer, offers a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based materials. Its high strength, optical properties, high aspect ratio, and biodegradability make it attractive for diverse applications. However, nanocellulose’s hydrophilicity limits its use in hydrophobic or high-ionic strength environments. Existing hydrophobization methods are complex, inefficient, or environmentally unfriendly. Here, levering nanocellulose’s ability to stabilize oil-in-water emulsions, we introduce a green, scalable method to produce hydrophobic nanocellulose entirely in water using a surfactant-acid catalyst. This presentation describes the modification protocol and characterization of the resulting hydrophobic nanocellulose. We are conducting a life-cycle assessment to evaluate the environmental impact of this method. This work offers a sustainable route to tailor nanocellulose surfaces for application in nonaqueous systems.