본 연구는 아민화 셀룰로오스 나노섬유(CNF)를 시멘트 복합체에 적용하여 기계적 및 미세구조적 성능 향상을 도모하고자 하였다. CNF는 (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES)를 활용해 화학적으로 개질하였으며, 이는 시멘트 수화 생성물과의 계면 결합력 및 분산성을 향상시키기 위한 목적이다. 표면 개질의 성공 여부는 주사전자현미경(SEM)과 X-선 회절 분석(XRD)을 통해 확인 하였다. 다양한 함량의 개질 및 비개질 CNF를 혼입한 모르타르를 제작하여 압축강도 및 휨강도를 평가하였다. 그 결과, 아민화 CNF는 0.2% 혼입 시 압축강도 향상 효과가 가장 두드러졌으며, 휨강도는 0.3%에서 가장 우수한 성능을 나타내었다. 미세구조 분석을 통해, 아민화 CNF가 시멘트 수화물과의 상호작용을 통해 내부 조직을 치밀하게 형성하고 공극률을 저감시키는 것으로 확인되었다. 본 연구는 화학적으로 개질된 CNF가 지속가능하고 고성능인 시멘트 복합재료 개발에 있어 유효한 기능성 첨가제로 활용될 수 있음을 시사한다.

The addition of fiber sto concrete matrix has been a norm to enhance the mechanical strength of concrete. However, the use ot synthetic fibers (artificial fibers) is rampant compared to natural fibers due to a low mechanical strength of some natural fibers. The study added cellulose fiber made from jute at 0.2%, 0.25, and 0.3% of cement weight to concrete matrix to determine their influence on the early strength development. It was observed that compressive strength and flexural strength increases as the proportion of fiber added to the concrete increased. Further observation showed that the compressive strength had its optimum point at 0.3% fiber addition. However, the optimum point of the flexural strength lied at 0.25% fiber addition. It was concluded that cellulose fiber is capable of enhancing the mechanical strengths of concrete matrix.

음이온 교환막은 수전해 시스템에서 매우 중요한 역할을 하며, 생성된 수소와 산소 기체를 물리적으로 분리할 뿐 만 아니라 전극 사이에서 수산화 이온의 선택적인 전달을 용이하게 한다. 음이온 교환막에 요구되는 특성은 수산화 이온에 대한 높은 전도도와 알칼리 환경에서의 화학적/기계적 안정성 등이 있다. 본 연구에서는 셀룰로오스 나노 크리스탈이 포함된 poly(terphenyl piperidinium) (qPTP/CNC) 복합매질분리막을 제조하였다. 고분자 매질로 사용된 poly(terphenyl piperidinium) 은 super-acid 중합법을 통해 제조되었으며 이온전도성과 알칼라인 내구성이 뛰어난 소재로 알려져 있다. qPTP/CNC 분리막 의 구조는 고분자와 나노 입자 계면의 공극이나 큰 응집체가 없는 조밀하고 균일한 형태를 나타냈다. CNC 나노 입자가 2 wt% 첨가된 qPTP/CNC 분리막은 높은 이온교환용량(1.90 mmol/g)과 낮은 함수율(9.09%) 및 팽윤도(5.56%)를 보였다. 또한, 복합막은 수전해 작동 환경인 50°C 1 M KOH에서 상용 FAA-3-50 분리막에 비해 월등히 낮은 저항과 우수한 알칼라인 내구 성(384시간)을 달성했다. 이러한 결과는 친수성 첨가제인 CNC가 음이온 교환막의 이온 전도 특성과 알칼라인 내구성 향상에 기여할 수 있음을 보고하였다.

The pursuit of sustainable and durable cementitious composites has led to a growing interest in alternative materials that can improve mechanical performance while reducing CO2 emissions. Nanomaterials, in particular, offer promising avenues due to their unique properties, including high surface area to volume ratio and increased reactivity. This study investigates the efficacy of Cellulose Nanofibers (CNF) in enhancing the durability of mortar exposed to sulfate attacks and alkali-silica reactions (ASR). Both MgSO4 and Na2SO4 solutions were employed to simulate sulfate attacks, while the role of CNF in mitigating ASR was also evaluated. Results indicate that CNF incorporation positively impacts the resistance of mortar against sulfate attacks and ASR, paving the way for eco-friendly and durable cement-based structures with extended service life.

The significance of this study lies in addressing critical issues prevalent in the worldwide construction sector, particularly concerning the durability and sustainability of cement-based materials. Plain cement composites commonly suffer from deficiencies in tensile strength and strain capacity, resulting in the formation of nano-cracks under relatively low tensile loads. These nano- cracks pose a significant challenge to the longevity and resilience of cement matrices, contributing to structural degradation and reduced service life of infrastructure. To mitigate these challenges, the integration of cellulose nanofibers (CNF) as reinforcements in cement composites presents a promising solution. CNF, renowned for their exceptional material properties including high stiffness, tensile strength, and corrosion resistance, offer the potential to significantly enhance the mechanical performance and durability of cement-based materials. Through systematic experimentation, this study investigates the effects of CNF reinforcement on the mechanical properties of cement composites. By leveraging ultrasonically dispersion techniques, CNF extracted from bamboo, broad leaf, and kenaf are uniformly dispersed within the cement matrix at varying concentrations. Compressive and flexural tests are subsequently conducted to evaluate the impact of CNF on the strength characteristics of the cement composites. By elucidating the efficacy of CNF reinforcement through rigorous experimentation, this study aims to provide valuable insights into the development of construction materials with improved durability and sustainability. Ultimately, this research contributes to addressing critical challenges in the construction industry, offering potential solutions to enhance the performance and longevity of cement-based infrastructure.

The development of biocomposites using renewable resources is a cost-effective and long-term solution to environmental and resource issues. Hydrogels [Poly Sodium Acrylate (PSA)] were created by variable percentages of crosslinker concentration, and banana–cellulose microfibril (CMF) was used as a filler in this study for better reinforcement. When the concentration of crosslinker is increased, the number of covalent crosslinks increases, limiting the movement of water molecules and lowering the diffusion coefficient, equilibrium water content, the initial rate of swelling, and the theoretical equilibrium swelling ratio. The swelling behaviour of reinforced PSA with high concentrations of CMF was unexpected; the hydrophilic OH groups of CMF increase the diffusion of water molecules from the swelling medium to inside the PSA, allowing for better mechanical behaviour of gels without sacrificing the swelling response. The swelling behaviour and swelling exponent of a hydrogel were determined at various temperatures, pH levels, and physiological fluid models. The swelling exponent's maximum value was discovered to be 0.5, which suggests that the hydrogel's water diffusion was non-Fickian in nature. The swelling ratio was found to rise with rising temperature and to have a lower value than that at room temperature. It was also proven that elevating the pH of the medium from 1 to 7 improved the PSA/CMF hydrogels' swelling response. The swelling behaviour of PSA/CMF hydrogels was also investigated as the concentration of CMF rose from 0.2 to 1%. The equilibrium water content, swelling kinetics, and water transport mechanisms were all investigated. The Flory–Rehner equation was applied to determine crosslinking density, polymer mesh size, and molecular weight between crosslinks.

The chemical composition of 86 species of native plants in Korea, including plants to be afforestation, was analyzed. The chemical composition of the species analyzed was different. The species with the highest extractable content was Viburnum dilatatum (3.91%), and the species with the lowest extractable content was Ligustrum lucidum (0.11%). The lignin content ranged from 12 to 39%, with an average of 25%. The species with the highest lignin content was Chaenomeles lagenaria (39.37%). Hemicellulose content ranged from 18 to 52%, with the highest species being Thuja occidentalis (51.22%) and Eucommia ulmoides (48.84%). Cellulose content ranged from 25 to 58%, and the species with the highest content were Prunus serrulata (57.67%), Diospyros kaki (57.14%), Aesculus turbinata (53.29%), Albizia julibrissin (53.02%), and Zelkova serrata (52.29%). The chemical composition was different for each use taxon of 86 plant species. The lignin content was the highest in the fruit group and the lowest in the group other than recommended species for afforestation. Cellulose content was highest in non-reforestation-recommended tree species and lowest in fruit trees. In classification according to tree height, lignin content was higher in shrubs than in tall trees, and cellulose content was highest in tall trees. Between deciduous and evergreen trees, the lignin content was high in deciduous trees (26.46%), and the cellulose content was also high in deciduous trees (44.01%). As a result of analyzing the correlation between each compound, there was a difference. There tended to be a positive correlation between extractives and lignin content. There was a negative correlation between extractives and holocellulose content, hemicellulose and cellulose. The higher extract content affected the cellulose content much more than hemicellulose. Also, the higher the lignin content, the lower the cellulose content. The species with low lignin content and high cellulose content were Diospyros kaki and Prunus serrulata var. spontanea. This result is expected to be primary data for bioenergy, pulp industry and bioindustry.

Seawater evaporation and purification powered by solar energy are considered as a promising approach to alleviate the global freshwater crisis, and the development of photothermal materials with high efficiency is imminent. In this study, cellulose nanofiber (CNF)/MXene/Ni chain (CMN) aerogels were successfully synthesized by electrostatic force and hydrogen bond interaction force. CMN10 achieved a favorable evaporation rate as high as 1.85 kg m− 2 h− 1 in pure water, and the corresponding evaporation efficiency could be up to 96.04%. Even if it is applied to seawater with multiple interference factors, its evaporation rate can still be 1.81 kg m− 2 h− 1. The superior seawater evaporation activity origins from the promoted separation of photoexcited charges and photothermal conversion by the synergy of Ni chain and MXene, as well as the water transport channel supported by the 3D structure frame of CNF. Most importantly, CMN aerogel can maintain water vapor evaporation rates above 1.73 kg m− 2 h− 1 under extreme conditions such as acidic (pH 2) and alkaline (pH 12) conditions. In addition, various major ions, heavy metals and organic pollutants in seawater can be rejected by CMN10 during desalination, and the rejection rates can reach more than 99.69%, ensuring the purity of water resources after treatment. This work shows the great potential of CMN aerogel as a high-efficiency solar evaporator and low-cost photothermal conversion material. Cellulose nanofiber (CNF)/MXene/Ni chain (CMN) aerogels demonstrated high evaporation of water from sea water.