Lignocellulosic hydrogel from recycled old corrugated container resources using ionic liquid as a green solvent

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biotechnology
• Green Chemistry

Background:

• Lignocellulosic hydrogels are gaining interest as valuable bio-products.
• Utilizing low-value recycled fibers like old corrugated containers (OCC) for high-value applications is economically and environmentally beneficial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To produce a lignocellulosic hydrogel from recycled old corrugated container (OCC) fibers.
• To evaluate the hydrogel's water absorption properties and structural characteristics.
• To investigate the influence of processing parameters on hydrogel performance.

Main Methods:

• Dissolution of OCC fibers using 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium chloride ionic liquid (IL) as a green solvent.
• Characterization of the hydrogel using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM).
• Analysis of hydrogel properties based on washing with different anti-solvents (distilled water, ethanol).

Main Results:

• The ionic liquid effectively dissolved OCC fibers, enabling lignocellulosic hydrogel formation.
• The fabricated hydrogel exhibited high water absorption capacity, reaching up to 4700%.
• XRD analysis showed reduced cellulose crystallinity, and FESEM revealed the hydrogel's microstructure.
• Washing with distilled water as an anti-solvent yielded the highest water absorption and re-absorption.

Conclusions:

• Recycled OCC fibers can be successfully converted into high-performance lignocellulosic hydrogels using ionic liquid technology.
• The developed hydrogel demonstrates significant potential for applications requiring high water absorption.
• Optimizing the washing process with distilled water enhances the hydrogel's water absorption and re-absorption capabilities.