Hydrophobization of Nanocrystalline and Microfibrillated Cellulose Using Covalent Grafting of Plant Oil-Based Copolymers

By Tetiana Shevtsova, Zoriana Demchuk, Oleh Shevchuk, Sergiy Minko, Andriy Voronov

Cellulose, a linear polysaccharide biopolymer, has applications in various industries including food packaging, personal care products, and construction, due to its unique physico-chemical properties, as well as its biocompatibility and biodegradability. This study introduces a methodology to enhance the hydrophobicity of nanocrystalline (CNC) and microfibrillated (MFC) cellulose, using the covalent attachment (grafting) of copolymers based on plant oils.