Nanocellulose extracted from energy crops residues as reinforcement for biocomposites

Lignocellulosic biomass is an under-exploited bioresource. This biomass can be retrieved from multiple sources, among which are wastes from agricultural and industrial lignocellulosic crops. Cellulose can be isolated from the lignocellulosic fibers and then depolymerized to give rise to nanocellulose (NC). Bio-based plastics have recently been appointed as natural candidates to replace fossil-based plastics. The introduction nanocellulose,as a reinforcement, into the biopolymer matrix is seen as a solution generating a novel functional class of materials, named bionanocomposites. Thus, the aim of this work was to test NC obtained from two different lignocellulosic biomass (Miscanthus and Kenaf, MNC and KNC).NC was produced via an alkaline pre-treatment approach followed by acid hydrolysis. These NC were incorporated in chitosan (Ch) at different rates (1.5%, 2% and 2.5% w/w) and the bionanocomposites were characterized. Commercial nanocellulose (CNC) at the same rates were also tested in the chitosan films for comparison.The results indicated that the incorporation of nanocrystalline cellulose improved the mechanical properties of chitosan as intended. Additionally, bionanocomposites are slightly more saturated and showed greater ultraviolet light block than the pristine chitosan films. Hence, results indicate that residues from those biomasses may provide a source of NC for the production of bionanocomposites.