Effect of endoglucanase and high-pressure homogenization post-treatments on mechanically grinded cellulose nanofibrils and their film performance

In this study, the effects of mechanical grinding (G) assisted by endoglucanase (E) and high-pressure homogenization (H) post-treated cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) and its film properties were investigated. Compared to only mechanical grinding, these two post-treatment processes improved the size uniformity of CNFs in width. The crystallinity of GECNFs was increased by 4.3 % and the resulting film exhibited low oxygen permeability rate (6.33 mL/m(2).day). Moreover, the combination post-treatments of enzyme and homogenization improved the tensile strength and transparency of CNFs films from 132.31 MPa, 27.52 %- to 177.99 MPa, 61.75 %, respectively. Besides, a composite of acrylic resin ABPE-10 and GEHCNFs film under negative pressure improved the transparency (85.68 %) and water contact angle (104.11 degrees) of film. This work also provides insight on the relationship between the CNFs morphology and their film properties, which can be used to improve the CNFs film performance and promote future applications of CNFs.

Automated summary

Mechanical grinding assisted by endoglucanase and high-pressure homogenization post-treatment improved the size uniformity and crystallinity of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs), leading to low oxygen permeability rate in resulting films. The combination post-treatments also enhanced the tensile strength and transparency of CNFs films, providing insight on improving CNFs film performance for future applications.