Using Parenchyma Cells Derived from Kenaf Degumming Wastewater to Fabricate High-Strength Lignocellulose Film
摘要
The massive discharged of kenaf degumming wastewater posed severe environmental challenges due to its high solid waste content (more than 90% parenchyma cells (PCs) and a small number of fiber cells), yet current treatment strategies primarily focus on reducing chemical oxygen demand (COD) while neglecting the valorization of these solids. To address this gap, this study proposed a sustainable approach to repurpose PCs (abundant yet underutilized sheet structure lignocellulosic solid waste) into high-strength lignocellulose film. A hierarchical physical screening method was developed to isolate PCs from wastewater, followed by high pressure solid-liquid separation and filtration equipment to fabricate lignocellulose film. The natural sheet morphology of PCs (50–500 μm length and 25–250 μm width) facilitated dense brick-layer stacking, enabling exceptional dry strength (27.4 MPa) and modulus (4.84 GPa). Notably, the PCs film retained 30.28% dry strength (7.51 MPa) under wet conditions, outperforming conventional paper (14.32% retention). Further modification via nano-silica (NS) and 3-glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) enhanced interfacial interactions through hydrogen bonding and Si-O-C/Si-O-Si covalent grafting, achieving a tensile strength of 49.44 MPa (increase by 40%) and modulus of 6.72 GPa (increase by 39%). Thermal stability analysis revealed a maximum decomposition temperature of 354.41 °C, attributable to the synergistic effects of NS inorganic reinforcement and GPTMS crosslinking. Comparative evaluations against 8 commercial papers demonstrated excellent mechanical properties. This work pioneered the conversion of solid waste from kenaf degumming waste into functional cellulose films, offering a dual solution for pollution mitigation and sustainable material innovation in packaging.