Cellulose nanofibers from bamboo and their nanocomposites with polyvinyl alcohol: Preparation and characterization

Bamboo cellulose nanofibers (BCNFs) having an average diameter of 15.02 nm were isolated from moso bamboo by chemical pretreatments combined with subsequent ultrasonic treatments to remove the hemicellulose and lignin and split the cellulose bundle into BCNFs. The isolation of BCNF is proved by transmission electron microscope (TEM), FTIR, XRD, and thermal gravimetric analyzer (TGA) characterizations. The BCNF was used as the reinforcing agent in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) along with crosslinking agents to prepare crosslinked nanocomposite aerogels. The resulting BCNF/PVA aerogel, treated with methyltrichlorosilane using a chemical vapor deposition technology, was rendered both hydrophobic and oleophilic. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), FTIR, and TGA results showed the characteristics of BCNF/PVA aerogels with or without silane coating. Finally, these low‐density hybrid aerogels proved to be efficiently absorbing organic solvents (e.g., hexane) and oils (e.g., pump oil) with an excellent selectivity, thereby making them potentially useful for spilled oil recovery and environmental protection. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:2611–2619, 2018. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers