Computational Simulation Tools to Support the Tissue Paper Furnish Management: Case Studies for the Optimization of Micro/Nano Cellulose Fibers and Polymer-Based Additives

Tissue paper production frequently combines two main types of raw materials: cellulose fibers from renewable sources and polymer-based additives. The development of premium products with improved properties and functionalities depends on the optimization of both. This work focused on the combination of innovative experimental and computational strategies to optimize furnish. The main goal was to improve the functional properties of the most suitable raw materials for tissue materials and develop new differentiating products with innovative features. The experimental plan included as inputs different fiber mixtures, micro/nano fibrillated cellulose, and biopolymer additives, and enzymatic and mechanical process operations. We present an innovative tissue paper simulator, the SimTissue, that we have developed, to establish the correlations between the tissue paper process inputs and the end-use paper properties. Case studies with industrial interest are presented in which the tissue simulator was used to design tissue paper materials with different fiber mixtures, fiber modification treatments, micro/nano fibrillated cellulose, and biopolymer formulations, and to estimate tissue softness, strength, and absorption properties. The SimTissue was able to predict and optimize a broader range of formulations containing micro/nanocellulose fibers, biopolymer additives, and treated-fiber mixtures, saving laboratory and industrial resources.

Recent Developments in Nanomaterials Based Adsorbents for Water Purification Techniques

Currently, most advanced technologies employ nanomaterials due to the modern tailor-made properties these materials exhibit compared to their bulk counterparts. Nanomaterials have attracted researchers around the globe in the last few decades due to their unusual properties due to the presence of a greater number of carriers at the surface, which affects the chemical and physical properties of these materials. Ensuring pure drinking water for domestic purposes is the biggest challenge in current times. Industrialization is increasing with time due to human needs. The extensive use of fertilizers to enhance agricultural productivity has hazardous effects on the ecosystem. Water pollution will significantly impact living beings on the land and aquatic beings, followed by terrestrial, aerial flora, and fauna. In a world full of technologies, there are many methods to purify water (water filters, RO purifiers, etc.). Still, nanotechnology plays a vital part in purifying water on a large scale. Nanotechnology methods came up with new materials and analytical techniques that can treat the by-products that are toxic to the environment. Heterogeneous photocatalysis used with metal oxide nanostructures causes no harm to the ecosystem. Nanomembranes and Nanostructures will play an active role by acting as a trap for many Nano pollutants. This review presents nano cellulose, nanocarbon tubes, and nanomembranes used in water purification and analytical techniques by addressing the current economic water purification techniques.

Potential of magnetic nano cellulose in biomedical applications: Recent Advances

Biopolymers have attracted considerable attention in various biomedical applications. Among them, cellulose as sustainable and renewable biomass has shown potential efficacy. With the advancement in nanotechnology, a wide range of nanostructured materials have surfaced with the potential to offer substantial biomedical applications. . The progress of cellulose at the nanoscale regime (nanocelluloses) with diverse forms like cellulose nanocrystals, nanofibres and bacterial nanocellulose) has imparted remarkable properties like high aspect-ratio and high mechanical strength, and biocompatibility. The amalgamation of nanocellulose together with magnetic nanoparticles (MNC) could be explored for a synergistic effect. In this review, a brief introduction of nano cellulose , magnetic nanoparticles and the synergistic effect of MNC is described. Further, the review sheds light on the recent studies based on MNCs with their potential in the biomedical area. Finally, the review is concluded by citing the remarkable value of MNC with their futuristic applications in other fields like friction layers for triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), energy production, hydrogen splitting, and wearable electronics.