Properties of APTES-Modified CNC Films

Sulfated cellulose nanocrystals’ (CNCs’) facile aqueous dispersibility enables producing films, fibers, and other materials using only water as a solvent but prevents using sulfated CNCs in applications that require water immersion. We report that modifying CNCs with 3-aminopropyl-triethoxysilane (APTES) via a simple, single-pot reaction scheme dramatically improves the hydrolytic stability of CNC films. The effects of APTES modification on CNCs’ properties were studied using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, atomic force and optical microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic light scattering, and ultimate analysis. Substituting a mere 12.6% of the CNCs’ available hydroxyl groups with APTES dramatically increased the hydrolytic stability of shear cast films while only having minor impacts on their mechanical properties. In addition, quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCMD) and multiparametric surface plasmon resonance (MP-SPR) studies showed that the CNC-APTES films also had a greater irreversible binding with carbofuran, a pesticide and emerging contaminant. These results highlight that APTES modification is a promising method for increasing the utility of sulfated CNCs in sensors, adsorbents, and other applications requiring water immersion.

Publication year: 2024
Authors: Amit S. 1, Gomez-Maldonado D. 2, Bish T. 1, Peresin M. 2, Davis V. 1
Affiliations:

1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Auburn University, Alabama, United States

2. Sustainable Biomaterials Lab, College of Forestry, Wildlife, and the Environment, Auburn University, Alabama, United States

Published in: ACS Omega, 2024, Vol. 9, Issue 14, p. 16572-16580
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c00439

MP-SPR KEYWORDS

210A VASA cellulose interaction MP-SPR - QCM comparison small molecules

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