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Lignocellulosic nanofibers from Hesperaloe Funifera for papermaking:

preliminary study

Conference Paper · March 2015

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.1476.6247

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University of Cordoba (Spain) Universitat de Girona
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 “PetruPoni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry
of Romanian Academy, Iasi, Romania

COST Action FP1205 – Innovative applications of regenerated wood cellulose fibres

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Advances in cellulose processing and applications –research goes to industry

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Authors are kindly invited to submit the abstract for posters before January 23, 2015

The official language of the congress is English. We invite authors to propose

contributions related to the topics covered by the three sessions depicted thereafter.

- Session1: Dissolution and regeneration of cellulose

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Title: Lignocellulosic nanofibers from Hesperaloe Funifera for papermaking: preliminary study

Authors: Eduardo Espinosa, Quim Tarrés, Albert Serra, Ana Moral, Alejandro Rodríguez, Pere Mutjé

After completion, please send this page and the abstract to:costfp1205_iasi@icmpp.ro (or
mihaela_cpop@yahoo.co.uk if the first one doesn’t work)
Lignocellulosic nanofibers from Hesperaloe Funifera for
papermaking: preliminary study
Eduardo Espinosa1, Quim Tarrés2, Albert Serra2, Marc Delgado-Aguilar2,
Ana Moral3, Alejandro Rodríguez1, Pere Mutjé2
Chemical Engineering Department, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
1
2LEPAMAP group. Department of Chemical Engineering. University of Girona. Maria
Aurèlia Capmany, 61 – 17071 Girona (Spain).
joaquimagusti.tarres@udg.edu
3Molecular Biology and Biochemical Engineering Department. University of Pablo

Olavide. Sevilla (Spain).

Keywords: lignocellulosic nanofibers, papermaking

ABSTRACT

Hesperaloe Funifera is a plant of the family Agavaceae up to 80cm tall and 1.0-1.2m wide with
long leaves up to 5 cm wide and 2-3cm thick (Figure 1). All species in its genus originated in
Mexico and its neighbouring USA regions, where it is used mainly for ornamental purposes
(Guillot Ortiz and Van der Meer, 2006).

Figure 1. Hesperaloe Funifera plant

 The participation of LEPAMAP group in industrial research projects has led the group to start to
investigate towards new processes and raw materials for obtaining low cost CNF with similar
performance in papermaking.
Hesperaloe might be an effective cellulose raw material in arid zones precluding cultivation of
other species (McLaughlin, 1993; Wong and McLaughlin, 2000; Nelson and McLaughlin, 2003)
or in areas with scant water resources. This plant is characterized for its high hemicellulose
content (35.6%) (Chaker et al. 20013) and, thus, it has a good aptitude to be nanofibrillated.
Lignocellulosic nanofibers (LCNF) were obtained by beating and homogenization processes.
Once LCNF were obtained, the yield of nanofibrillation, the cationic demand (CD) and the
carboxyl rate were determined with the purpose of estimating the specific surface and the
diameter of LCNF. Finally, LCNF were added in bulk into a bleached kraft hardwood pulp
suspension and it was mechanically tested. These LCNF provide to the pulp an increase of 90%
in breaking length. It was demonstrated that it is possible to reach values of tensile resistance
comparable to papers with CNF in bulk obtained by TEMPO-mediated oxidation (González et al.
2012) and, moreover, with the added value that represents the possible increase of the market
share of these types of plants.

References:
1. D. Guillot Ortíz, P. Van der Meer, Botánica Complutensis, 30, 137-145, 2006.
2. S.P. McLaughlin, In: Janick, J., Simon, J.E. (Eds.), New Crops, 1993.
3. A. Wong, S.P. McLaughlin, Tappi Pulping Conference, 2000.
4. J.M. Nelson, S.P. McLaughlin, Industrial Crops and Products, 17, 93-101, 2003.
5. A. Chaker, S. Alila, P. Mutjé, M.R. Vilar, S. Boufi, Cellulose, 20(6), 2863-2875, 2013.
6. I. González, S. Boufi, M.A. Pèlach, M. Alcalá, F. Vilaseca, P. Mutjé, Bioresources, 21(4),
5167-5180, 2012.

Acknowledgments:
The authors wish to acknowledge the financial support of the Spanish Economy and
Competitiveness Ministry to the referenced projects: CTQ2012-36868-C02-01 and CTM2011-
28506-C02-01.

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