Oxidized xylan additive for nanocellulose films – A swelling modifier

Polymeric wood hemicelluloses are depicted to join cellulose, starch and chitosan as key polysaccharides for sustainable materials engineering. However, the approaches incorporate in emerging bio-based products challenged by lack of specific benefit, other than biomass-origin, although their utilization would contribute material use since they currently a side stream that is not valorized. Here we demonstrate wood-xylans swelling modifiers neutral charged nanocellulose films have already entered packaging applications, however, suffer from humidity sensitivity. The oxidative modification used modulate water-solubility xylan hence enable adsorption an aqueous environment. A high molecular weight grade, less water-soluble, adsorbed preferentially on surface while amount negatively was independent weight, hence, solubility. oxidized xylans cellulose resulted increase water film total decreased. finding synergy two hygroscopic decrease hydrophilic bio-polymer demonstrates macromolecule structurally functional component products.