Biofibers as Catalytic Supports

Miscellaneous Applications of Biofibers from Renewable Resource

Keywords

Biofiber • Renewable resource • Chitin • Nanofibril • Catalytic support • Extrusion

Recyclable green catalyst supports were prepared using catalytically active hybrid cellulose fibers in nanochitin hydrogels [12Das]. Hydrogels containing chitin nanofibrils of 9 nm diameter and several micrometers in length were wet spun into macrofibers by extrusion. Figure 73.1 shows SEM images of the surface of the fibers. The extruded microfibers had a large plastic region of 12 % and work to fracture of 10 MJ/m3. In addition, Nobel metal nanoparticles were added onto the surface of the chitin macrofibers via the amine functional groups. Developed organic-inorganic supports were considered to be suitable for fast catalytic reductions of model compounds.

image218

Fig. 73.1 SEM images of the macrofibers developed by wet extruding a chitosan-nanofibril hydrogel. a, c, and d are SEM images at various magnifications and e (topography) and f (height) are AFM images [12Das]. Inset (b) is an digital image of the actual fiber produced. Reproduced with permission from the American Chemical Society

Reference

[12Das] Das, P., Heuser, T., Wolf, A., Zhu, B., Demco, D. E., Ifuku, S.: Biomacromolecules 13, 4205 (2012)