Pristine and surface functionalized cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) incorporated hydrogel beads and uses thereof
OwnerNishil Mohammed, Nathan Grishkewich +2inventors
InventorsNishil Mohammed, Nathan Grishkewich, Kam Chiu Tam, Richard Berry
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to the use of pristine and surface functionalized cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) incorporated hydrogel beads as adsorbent materials for water treatment applications. Here the hydrogel beads were prepared by ionic crosslinking of biopolymer sodium alginate using calcium chloride.
Claims15
Hydrogel beads incorporating cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), wherein said CNCs are incorporated partially or wholly within said beads, said beads comprising a matrix of cross-linked natural or synthetic polymer and said CNC being pristine or functionalized CNCs;
- and wherein the cross-linked natural or synthetic polymer is a hydrogel-forming polymer comprising alginate, chitosan, starch, polylacrylic acid or polystyrene.
Hydrogel beads incorporating cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), wherein said CNCs are incorporated partially or wholly within said beads, said beads comprising a matrix of cross-linked natural or synthetic polymer and said CNC being pristine or functionalized CNCs;
- wherein the cross-linked or synthetic polymer is a hydrogel-forming polymer;
- and wherein said CNC is functionalized by carboxyl functionalization, amine functionalization, polymer grafting or amine coating.
A method of preparing hydrogel beads incorporating CNC, said method comprising:
- i) providing an aqueous mixture of a cross-linkable natural or synthetic polymer and pristine or functionalized CNCs, wherein the cross-linkable natural or synthetic polymer is comprising alginate, chitosan, starch, polylacrylic acid or polystyrene;
- and
- ii) contacting the mixture of step i) with a cross-linker suitable to cause the formation of hydrogel beads by cross-linking of adjacent chains of said cross-linkable natural or synthetic polymer.
A method of preparing hydrogel beads incorporating CNC, said method comprising:
- i) providing an aqueous mixture of a cross-linkable natural or synthetic polymer and pristine or functionalized CNCs;
- and
- ii) contacting the mixture of step i) with a cross-linker suitable to cause the formation of hydrogel beads by cross-linking of adjacent chains of said cross-linkable natural or synthetic polymer;
- wherein:
- said step i) is comprising:
- providing a first aqueous mixture of said cross-linkable natural or synthetic polymer and said pristine or functionalized CNCs;
- and
- providing a second aqueous mixture comprising a cross-linker for cross-linking adjacent chains of said cross-linkable natural or synthetic polymer;
- and
- said step ii) is comprising:
- contacting said first and second aqueous mixtures;
- and
- allowing the mixtures to react and form hydrogel beads incorporating CNCs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.