Source: LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY submitted to NEW TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE UTILIZATION OF TEXTILE MATERIALS

PROJECT DIRECTOR: NEGULESCU, I. CHEN, Y. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION SCHOOL OF HUMAN ECOLOGY LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY BATON ROUGE,LA 70893 NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Annual plants, agricultural wastes (bagasse and straws)and recyclable worn cotton/rayon textiles are replenishable sources for value-added textile materials. This project investigates the possibility of obtaining value-added textile materials from agricultural and textile wastes. OBJECTIVES: To develop value added products from renewable and recyclable resources. To develop and evaluate textiles with enhanced resistance (or susceptibility) to environmental degradation. APPROACH: Investigations on lyocell fibers, fabrics and composites will be carried out in the following areas with the technical support from SRRC USDA in New Orleans, LA: 1) producing lyocell from agrifibers (e.g., sugar cane bagasse or wheat straw and consumer wastes), 2) developing biomass derived biodegradable polyhydroxylated nylons (BPHN) and 3) preparation of lyocell composites with biodegradable polyesters (BPE) and BPHN. Lyocell fibers spun from amino-oxide/water solutions will be transformed into nonwovens. Specialty nonwoven ion exchange materials for filtration will be prepared by reacting lyocell fibers with ionic compounds suitable for removing reactive dyes and heavy metals from industrial wastewater. Polyhydroxylated polyamides (PHPA) will be obtained from biomass carbohydrates that are promising candidates for making nylons, such as glucose. Unique molecular composites will be prepared by co-solving BPE or PHPA in a lyocell solution. The rheological behavior of lyocell and composite solutions will be investigated to predict the processability. Thermal properties will be determined by calorimetry, dielectric relaxation, and thermo-mechanical and thermogravimetric measurements. Investigations will be continued also on the improvement of kenaf yarns for apparel applications. Research will be carried out to further develop value-added products from bagasse fibers. Specific investigative objectives are to: (1) determine, characterize, and compare fibers extracted from sugarcane varieties in FL and LA; (2) produce and evaluate needle-punched nonwoven mats and spun yarns and (3) investigate the effects of different treatments on dimensions, strength and dyeability of sugarcane bagasse fibers. Carded webs will be produced with 100% sugar cane fibers and also with blends of other cellulosic fibers, such as kenaf, cotton and flax. The effectiveness of these carrier fibers in aiding processing and increasing mat strength will be assessed. LSU will continue in collaboration with the USDA SRRC at New Orleans the research on fabrication of nonwovens using agricultural fibers (sugar cane rind, kenaf, cotton, flax, ramie, etc.) and recycled commercial polymer materials. Major objectives include: (1) methods of separating commercial polymers from industrial remnants; (2) development of new fibers and processability of agricultural fibers and recycled fibers for textile nonwoven products; and (3) effective approaches to improving end-use performance of nonwovens. New approaches to recycling natural and synthetic polymers will be investigated. Recycled fibers from industrial remnants or agricultural residuals (e.g. bagasse) will be blended, opened, cleaned, and carded to form fiber webs. A needle-punching machine will be used to form nonwovens. Evaluation of end-use performance of the recycled nonwovens will be carried out and finishing methods to improve nonwoven end-use performance will be considered. CRIS NUMBER: 0191064 SUBFILE: CRIS PROJECT NUMBER: LAB93547 SPONSOR AGENCY: CSREES PROJECT TYPE: HATCH PROJECT STATUS: TERMINATED MULTI-STATE PROJECT NUMBER: S-1002 START DATE: Oct 1, 2001 TERMINATION DATE: Sep 30, 2006 GRANT PROGRAM: (N/A) GRANT PROGRAM AREA: (N/A)

GRANT PROGRAM AREA: (N/A) Knowledge Area (KA) 403 403 511 511 804 804 CLASSIFICATION Subject (S) 5120 5120 5120 5120 5120 5120 Science (F) 2000 2020 2000 2020 2000 2020 Objective (G) 6.2 6.2 2.1 2.1 3.2 3.2 Percent 20% 20% 15% 15% 15% 15%

CLASSIFICATION HEADINGS KA511 - New and Improved Non-Food Products and Processes KA804 - Human Environmental Issues Concerning Apparel, Textiles, and Residential and Commercial Structures KA403 - Waste Disposal, Recycling, and Reuse S5120 - Textiles F2020 - Engineering F2000 - Chemistry G6.2 - Enhance Soil Quality for Productive Working Lands G3.2 - Quality of Life in Rural Areas G2.1 - Expand Domestic Market Opportunities RESEARCH EFFORT CATEGORIES BASIC APPLIED 30% 50%

DEVELOPMENTAL 20% KEYWORDS: bagasse; biodegradation; textiles; polyesters; nylon; cellulose; cotton; wheat straw; plant fibers; recycling; waste utilization; new technology; agricultural engineering; value added; product development; product evaluation; biomass; production systems; process development; rheological properties; chemical properties; composites; prediction; kenaf; clothing; comparative analysis; cooperative research; end use performance PROGRESS: Oct 1, 2001 TO Sep 30, 2006 OBJECTIVE 1. Developing Value Added Products from Renewable/Recyclable Resources. A. Synthesis and Characterization of Glucose-Based Polyhydroxylated Nylons (Glylons). Glylon 6,6, which is the correspondent of petroleum-based Nylon 6,6, has been prepared from activated glycaric acid (lactone form) and 1,6 hexamethylene diamine. Since the polymer decomposes right after melting (160-180 C), a solvent (N-methyl-morpholine oxide) has been identified for Glylons allowing the preparation of solutions for fiber spinning and film casting. Macroscopic spherulites (mm scale) have been formed in 2-20 percent concentrations. Composite blends have been prepared from Glylon 6,6 and pulp (DP = 640). Concentrated solutions of Glylon 6,6 and of blends showed a shear-induced organization which was shear-rate and temperature dependent. B. Preparation and Characterization of Nonwoven Materials Based on Natural Fibers and Synthetic/Biobased Polymers. A cooperation with the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, TN, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, AR and the USDA ARS Southern Regional Research Center from New Orleans, LA allowed the preparation of biodegradable nonwoven composites based on bagasse, cotton, ramie, or kenaf fibers and biodegradable polyester melt-bound nonwovens as well as of composite nonwovens prepared from greige cotton, jute, flax and polypropylene fibers. Biobased nonwoven composites were obtained from bagasse and cotton fibers by replacing synthetic polymers with bio-derived polyesters (polyhydroxyalkanoates, PHA). Durable fire retarding composition (containing phosphorus for fire retarding and melamine formaldehyde for crosslinking of cellulose) and non-durable, washable formulations (containing phosphorus or boron with no crosslinker) have been applied. In view of the advances in technologies for recovering aconitic acid from sugar cane that should lower its cost and continued need within the sugar cane industry to find alternative products, sugarcane-derived esters of aconitic acid have been used for plasticization of PVC and of biobased polyesters. The study was undertaken to evaluate the industrial potential of aconitates as substitutes of phthalates for plasticization of PVC (cooperation with LSU AgCenter Audubon Sugar Institute). New sandwich type layered nonwovens have been prepared from bagasse and cotton webs using a solution of cellulose obtained from recyclable cotton textiles (cooperation with UL Lafayette). Wood fibers and synthetic polymers (PVC, polyolefins) were also used for preparation of stable sandwich-type materials by pressing to form laminate products with foreseen applications in buildings and auto industries (cooperation with LSU Department of Renewable Resources). OBJECTIVE 2. Developing Bioprocessing and Related New Technologies for Textiles.

Department of Renewable Resources). OBJECTIVE 2. Developing Bioprocessing and Related New Technologies for Textiles. LSU did not participate to this objective. OBJECTIVE 3. Developing and Evaluating Textile Systems for Protective and Medical Applications. Carboxymethylated cotton nonwovens have been prepared and tested as bandages for healing of moist wounds. Cellulose derivatives and saccharide oligomers have been oxidized and their biological activity has been evaluated in vivo. IMPACT: 2001-10-01 TO 2006-09-30 Biodegradable nonwoven materials prepared from annual plants (cotton, kenaf, sugar cane), agricultural wastes (bagasse) and recyclable cotton textiles are good candidates to compete with and/or replace nonwoven textiles based on natural fibers and oil-derived synthetic polymers. Promotion of new uses of cotton fibers in composite nonwoven materials will impact the US cotton industry in search for new cotton applications. Production of sugar cane derived biobased plasticizers coupled with the use of bagasse in technical materials will impact positively the sugar cane industry in this country. PUBLICATION INFORMATION: 2001-10-01 TO 2006-09-30 Ioan I. Negulescu and Roger A. Laine, Biomass Glucose Derived Fiber Forming Polyamides, LEQSF(2000-03)-RD-B-04, Proposal and Reports 2002-04, LA BOR, Baton Rouge, LA.. NAME: PHONE: FAX: Negulescu, I. PROJECT CONTACT INFORMATION 225-578-1684 225-578-2697