Reducing Water Adsorption in Bacterial Nanocellulose through via sol-gel method

Area of Science:

• Biopolymer Science
• Materials Science
• Textile Engineering

Background:

• Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is a promising biopolymer produced by Gluconacetobacter species.
• BNC possesses high water-holding capacity, limiting its use in textile applications.
• Sustainable and cost-effective production methods for BNC are desirable.

Purpose of the Study:

• To optimize BNC production using green tea and sucrose.
• To functionalize BNC with titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles to reduce water-holding capacity.
• To evaluate the mechanical properties and water barrier performance of BNC-TiO₂ composites.

Main Methods:

• Cultivation of Gluconacetobacter xylinus/hansenii with sucrose and green tea for BNC production.
• Sol-gel method for functionalizing BNC with TiO₂ nanoparticles.
• Characterization using FTIR, SEM, AFM, EDS, and mechanical testing.

Main Results:

• Optimal BNC yield of 7.56 g/L achieved with 60 g/L sucrose and green tea.
• TiO₂ functionalization reduced water-holding capacity by over 98% (to 2.77 g water/g BNC).
• Young's modulus and tensile stress improved significantly after TiO₂ incorporation.

Conclusions:

• BNC-TiO₂ composites offer a sustainable and cost-effective solution for advanced textile applications.
• TiO₂ coating effectively reduces water absorption and enhances mechanical strength.
• This approach presents a robust alternative for developing high-performance functional textiles.