R. Panackal Shibu, J.L. Shamshina
Texas Tech University,
United States
Keywords: Chitin, Nanochitin, nanowhiskers, ionic liquids
Summary:
The sphere of nanotechnology has advanced considerably, with nanocrystals capturing significant attention and serving a dominant role in a broad range of disciplines from material synthesis to biomedical uses. The abundance of biopolymer chitin has led to eminent progress in nano-based research in terms of sustainability. Chitin nanocrystals, that is extensively processed from various biomasses including crustaceans, insects, molluscs, fungi, mushrooms, nematodes, and other sources, have demonstrated exceptional applications across a wide range of industries. Since the overindulgence of strong acids and alkalis currently used for the processing of chitin results in a severely detrimental impact on the ecosystem, we aim to make use of “cheap ionic liquids” (ILs) for the generation of chitin nanowhiskers straight from various biomasses in a more promising and economically appealing manner. Herein, we map out the synthesis of chitinous nanomaterials straight from a range of biomasses (white mushroom, squid pen, shrimp shells, crab shells, fly larval biomass) and biopolymers (chitosan and practical grade chitin) utilizing ionic liquids such as [HTEA][HSO4] and [Hmim][HSO4] (cost $1.56/ kg). The goal of our research is to evaluate how the choice of biomass source and ILs affects their size and various properties, including purity, aspect ratio, percolation threshold, as well as surface characteristics such as morphology, specific surface area, and dependency on surface potential. Moreover, we intend to examine the physical properties of nanochitin, encompassing parameters such as molecular weight (MW), acetylation (%DA), and crystallinity (%CrI), under various conditions. In a bid to uncover opportunities for crafting materials with modified properties, we delved deeper into examining the advantages of interactions between nanochitin with amide-bearing polymers. Our goal is to target the interfacial bonding and strength of nanochitin-reinforced composites to improve gas transmission and overall mechanical properties for packaging applications. Additionally, we have also investigated the same for two floor-coating solutions derived from polyurethanes and polyacrylamides, respectively. To encapsulate, our research highlights the enhanced qualities of composite films strengthened by the chitin nanomaterials prepared in this manner, with the ultimate objective of demonstrating their flexibility across various fields of study.